Latest California Healthline Stories
More Nursing Students Turning to For-Profit Colleges
Waiting lists and scheduling problems at California’s community colleges are pushing some students to pursue nursing degrees at private, for-profit colleges, such as the University of Phoenix. Students say the for-profit schools often have more convenient hours and offer the benefit of awarding bachelors degrees rather than associates degrees. KQED’s “The California Report.”
El Dorado County Ends Retiree Health Benefits for Some New Workers
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has agreed to cut off retiree health benefits for new employees and some rehired workers. Several other California counties also have started reducing public worker benefits in an effort to cut costs. Sacramento Business Journal.
Outlook for Health Care Summit Clouds as GOP Leaders Raise Concerns
In a letter to the White House, House Republican leaders said their caucus might be “reluctant to participate” in a summit President Obama has called for Feb. 25 if the Democratic health care reform legislation remains as a starting point for negotiations. AP/USA Today et al.
Calif. Among States Pursuing Own Paths on Health Reform
Last month, Democrats in the California Legislature approved a bill to lay the groundwork for a state-managed, single-payer health care system, distinguishing the state from a number of other states that are considering measures aimed at pre-empting national health care reform legislation from requiring individuals to have health insurance coverage. Politico.
New Seismic Safety Law Will Save Hospitals Billions, Experts Say
A bill that was signed
into law in fall 2009 and incorporated into state regulations in January could
save state hospitals billions of dollars over the next few years, experts say.
SB 499 delays the deadlines for hospitals to meet seismic safety standards
until 2020 or 2030. San Francisco Business Times.
Advocate Criticizes Proposed Cuts to Healthy Families
Wendy Lazarus, founder and co-president of the Children’s Partnership, argues that plans to decrease eligibility and cut services under Healthy Families would affect all state residents. She explains that children who stand to lose coverage under the program will still require medical attention, but they will be forced to gain that coverage from higher-cost emergency departments. Healthy Families is California’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. Capitol Weekly.
California Data Suggest Few Deaths From H1N1 Vaccine
Data from the California Department of Public Health show that one in every 10,000 residents with H1N1 flu died. By comparison, only three of the 13 million residents that received the vaccine died, and it is unclear whether their deaths can be attributed to H1N1. USA Today.
Democrats Criticize GOP Representative’s Budget Plan
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats are attacking a budget plan by Rep. Paul Ryan that calls for shifting future Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries into private insurance plans and raising the retirement age to 70 over time. The budget plan does not have the support of the entire House Republican caucus, although members of both parties have acknowledged that it would help reduce the national deficit. Washington Post.
California Officials Keep Up Push for Increase in Federal Health Funding
Gov. Schwarzenegger and leaders of California’s Legislature are urging congressional leaders and members of the state’s congressional delegation to back legislation that would repay states for past Medicare costs. They also are asking HHS to revise Medicare formulas. AP/New York Times.
WellPoint CEO Calls Reform Debate ‘Wasted Opportunity’
In an opinion piece, Joseph Rago speaks with Angela Braly — the CEO of WellPoint, the nation’s largest commercial insurer by membership — about her take on the health care reform debate. She also said health insurers support health care reform proposals that would tackle the issue of health care costs and criticized current reform bills that would increase regulations on insurers. WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of California. Wall Street Journal.