Latest California Healthline Stories
More Action on Tap for California Prison Health Care
Staffing at state prison hospitals is drawing closer scrutiny from legislative committees as Gov. Schwarzenegger asks the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a recent appeals court ruling dealing with concerns about the quality of prison health care. Meanwhile, a new hospital facility has opened at San Quentin State Prison four months earlier than expected and $10 million under budget. Sacramento Bee et al.
Governor Calling for Federal Aid To Help Close State Budget Gap
Gov. Schwarzenegger and other state officials are calling on the federal government to amend Medicaid reimbursement rates and offer additional assistance to help California mend an expected budget deficit. The state’s previous budget fixes are coming under fire from recent court decisions blocking state worker furloughs and other program cuts. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Opinion: ‘Sensible Solution’ Is To Reform Health Care
In light of a California Healthcare Foundation report showing that health insurance premiums rose by 117.5% over the last seven years, “the only sensible solution that can be drawn is that the status quo is flat-out unsustainable,” argues Timm Herdt, head of the Ventura County Star‘s state bureau. He concludes that it is “essential” to reform the health system now, or “the entire health care delivery system will become so broken that the only solution will be for the government to take it over.” Ventura County Star.
Report: State Furloughs Add to Delivery Delays for Disability Benefits
A new report finds that state-mandated furloughs are contributing to backlogs in Social Security Administration programs that offer assistance to disabled residents. Although the federal government funds the programs, state workers administer the benefits. Capitol Weekly.
AHA Mixed on Senate’s Health Care Reform Legislation
Rich Umbendstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, said his organization supports some aspects of the Senate’s health care reform legislation but is hoping for “some changes when it gets to conference with the House bill.” NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
Ventura County Clinics, Care Centers See Rise in Demand
The number of people who use Ventura County Health Care Agency’s clinics and urgent care centers increased from 377,453 in fiscal year 2007 to 447,856 in the fiscal year than ended on June 30, according to a report from the agency. The report found that seven of 10 of the patients at the facilities were either uninsured or underinsured. Ventura County Star.
Gov. Asks Congress To Consider Health Reform’s Effect on States
In a letter to Congress, Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote that current health care reform proposals would further deplete California’s budget if lawmakers do not enact certain changes. He called for a reduction in Medi-Cal eligibility levels and loosened regulations that would allow the state to cut In-Home Supportive Services and other programs. Sacramento Bee, Office of the Governor release.
UCLA Facility at Center of End-of-Life Care Debate
According to data compiled by Dartmouth researchers, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center spends more on end-of-life care than most other hospitals but does not seem to have any better results. J. Thomas Rosenthal, CMO of UCLA Health System, said the hospital has begun to re-examine its practices. However, existing research fails to take into account patients who survive end-of-life treatment. New York Times.
Senate Readies for Thursday Morning Vote on Health Care Reform
Yesterday afternoon, Senate leaders announced that they had reached a deal to hold a final vote on the chamber’s health care reform bill at 8 a.m. on Thursday. As part of the agreement, the Senate will vote on a $290 billion short-term debt limit bill immediately following the health care vote. The Hill et al.
Health Care Industry Spends ‘Big Money’ on Lobbying
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the health care industry spent nearly $400 million lobbying Congress, federal agencies and the White House on health care reform during the first nine months of the year. PBS’ “NewsHour.”