Latest California Healthline Stories
Cisco Announces $10M Gift to Calif. Telemedicine Project
On Friday, Cisco Systems announced that it will provide $10 million in equipment, services and support for a telemedicine pilot project involving Molina Healthcare, two community health centers in San Diego and the state government. The project will link 15 sites to improve access to care for underserved communities. Sacramento Business Journal.
Deadline for California Seismic Safety Rules for Hospitals Again at Issue
California lawmakers likely will consider legislation to ease state deadlines for seismic safety rules for hospitals after tabling a proposal in last year’s legislative session, but union officials are solidly opposed to additional delays to the deadlines. Sacramento Bee.
Massachusetts Special Election Steals Spotlight in Health Care Reform
All eyes are on Massachusetts today as voters go to the polls to select a senator to complete the term of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. A victory by Republican state Sen. Scott Brown could pressure House Democrats to approve the Senate’s health care reform bill without making any changes. Wall Street Journal et al.
California Communities Drive Demand for Health Workers
Sacramento and Riverside/San Bernardino are among the communities nationwide where demand for health care workers is growing the fastest, according to a study by Health Workforce Solutions. The study considered 30 job markets nationwide. HealthLeaders Media.
Hospital Groups Worry About Cuts to Safety Net Facilities
Both the Senate and House health care reform bills propose cutting disproportionate share hospital payments to facilities whose patients are largely uninsured or beneficiaries of Medicaid. Hospitals want the cuts to be delayed until provisions of the bill aimed at expanding health insurance coverage are fully implemented. HealthLeaders Media.
Cuts to California Breast Cancer Screening Effort Spark Worry, Legislation
After California froze enrollment in a program that provides mammograms at no cost to women who aren’t eligible for Medi-Cal, health care providers and advocates say the number of women seeking breast cancer screenings has dropped. A new bill aims to restore funding for the program. Torrance Daily Breeze.
Debate Over Calif. Budget Expected To Be a Long One
Political analysts and other observers of the California Legislature expect this year’s budget debate to be just as drawn out and contentious as budget battles in recent years. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal includes substantial cuts to health care and again calls for voters to shift money from special state funds for mental health care and early childhood health care and education programs. Sacramento Bee.
California’s Democratic Lawmakers Tone Down Plea for Federal Funds
This week, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass praised the federal government for technical law changes that could assist children in Healthy Families. Bass also questioned whether Gov. Schwarzenegger’s forceful rhetoric in his quest for more federal funds was appropriate. Capitol Weekly.
Editorial Urges Action To Boost Access to Generic Drugs
Members of Congress should use health care reform legislation to close a loophole in current law that lets drugmakers pay rivals to delay the introduction of lower-cost generic medications into the market, an editorial states, going on to endorse language from the House bill that “simply bans the practice.” Washington Post.
Health Outreach Benefits San Joaquin Valley Immigrants
Two new studies by the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at California State University-Fresno indicate that Hispanic immigrants who had access to a health educator were more likely to receive regular preventive health care services than other immigrants. The health educators, called promotoras, helped the immigrants find regular doctors and affordable health care. Fresno Bee.