Latest California Healthline Stories
Brown’s Victory in Massachusetts a Game Changer for Reform
Massachusetts voters’ election of Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate will end Democrats’ filibuster-proof majority in the chamber, forcing Democrats to rethink their strategy for getting health care reform legislation to President Obama. Boston Globe et al.
Molina Healthcare To Buy Health IT Unit of Unisys
On Tuesday, Long Beach-based HMO Molina Healthcare announced that it will pay $135 million in cash for IT services firm Unisys’ health information management unit. The unit of Unisys currently has contracts with Medicaid programs in Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey and West Virginia. Los Angeles Times, Government Health IT.
Editorial Chides Feinstein, Boxer for Support of Reform
Citing analyses indicating that some provisions of the health care reform legislation could have a disproportionate negative effect on Californians, an editorial questions how California’s Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer could support the legislation. The editorial concludes that Congress should scrap the current health care reform proposals and start over. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Advocacy Group Questions Fee Hike in Stanislaus County
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors’ decision to rework eligibility rules and copayment policies for its health care program for low-income residents is drawing scrutiny from the Western Center on Law & Poverty, which has challenged similar policy changes in other counties. Modesto Bee.
Anthem Blue Cross Joins Up With Hospitals on Patient Safety Effort
Anthem Blue Cross is providing $6 million for a project designed to help hospital workers share strategies for curbing hospital-acquired infections. Three California hospital associations and the National Health Foundation are pitching in for the project, which could help control increasing health care costs and health insurance premiums. Los Angeles Times et al.
Prime Healthcare Services Gets Nod for Performance
In a study released in summer 2009, Thomson Reuters Research identified Prime Healthcare Services as one of the top 10 hospital systems in the nation based on clinical performance. The California-based hospital chain has drawn criticism for some of its business practices. Public CEO.
Schwarzenegger Set To Meet With HHS Secretary Sebelius
Gov. Schwarzenegger is kicking off his trip to Washington, D.C., today with a visit with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this morning. Schwarzenegger’s budget plan calls for a major increase in federal funding for health care and other programs. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
California To Announce New Rules Limiting Wait Times for HMO Members
Tomorrow, the California Department of Managed Health Care is slated to release new regulations that call for HMO members to see a physician within 10 days of requesting an appointment. Insurers generally support the rules but warn that they might drive up costs. Los Angeles Times.
California Health Care Groups Pitch In To Help in Haiti
California-based health care organizations, as well as doctors and nurses from the state, are joining efforts to respond to last week’s earthquake in Haiti. For example, Sutter Health has provided $1.25 million to Doctors Without Borders, and Kaiser Permanente has provided $500,000 to Doctors Without Borders and three other groups. Sacramento Bee et al.
Provisions of Health Care Reform Bills Get Mixed Response in Calif.
Observers say national health care reform legislation could require California to pay a large share of the costs of expanding Medi-Cal. Meanwhile, physicians are taking issue with the state’s low Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, and others are expressing concern about the potential impact of a proposed tax on fully funded health plans, such as those offered by Kaiser Permanente. San Jose Mercury News et al.