Latest California Healthline Stories
Massachusetts Rule Does Not Increase ED Wait Times
A Massachusetts rule implemented in January 2009 that requires emergency departments in the state to accept all patients delivered by ambulance has not worsened ED overcrowding. Patients who were admitted to the hospital spent between five and five-and-a-half hours in the ED on average, while patients who were discharged spent about 2.5 hours in the ED. The wait times are similar to the average times before the rule took effect. Boston Globe.
Senate OKs Spending Bill With Mandatory Increases for Health Care
Yesterday, the Senate voted to approve a $446.8 billion omnibus spending bill that includes an additional $650 billion in mandatory spending for federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. The bill also includes funding increases for veterans’ health care. CQ Today et al.
Advocate: House Health Care Reform Bill Better for Calif.
Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court says provisions of the Senate’s health care reform bill would pre-empt California law, potentially scaling back some state consumer protection laws. Court says the House bill includes stronger protections for Californians. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Blue Shield Foundation Awards $5M for Health Care, Other Programs
About $1.5 million of the Blue Shield of California Foundation’s latest grants will help support health care coverage and research programs. The latest funding round brings the foundation’s total grant allocations to $28.9 million this year. San Francisco Business Times.
California Counties Opening Up Access to H1N1 Vaccine
A growing number of California counties are opening up H1N1 flu vaccine clinics to the general public. Earlier in the outbreak, county clinics were hit by bottlenecks in the vaccine supply, resulting in limited access to the vaccine. Los Angeles Times.
State Stem Cell Agency OKs Big Pay Hike for CIRM Leader
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Vice Chair Art Torres’ annual pay will jump from $75,000 to $225,000 under a proposal that won unanimous approval from CIRM’s Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Torres’ workload also will increase. Sacramento Bee.
Pelosi Endorses Senate Agreement on Medicare Buy-In as Part of Reform
Yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came out in favor of a plan in the Senate that would let people ages 55 to 64 buy in to Medicare as part of a larger health care reform effort. Pelosi did not endorse other aspects of the deal that are intended to replace a public option. Washington Post et al.
O.C. First 5 Tries Loan-Assistance Effort for Pediatric Specialists
Next month, the Children and Families Commission of Orange County plans to begin offering medical education loan forgiveness to pediatric specialists who move to the county to practice. No other county First 5 commission has participated in a loan-forgiveness program. Payers & Providers.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of December 11, 2009
The Northern California Rehabilitation Hospital has completed an expansion project that added 12 licensed beds to the facility’s transitional care ward, and Simi Valley Hospital is gearing up to open a 7,000 square-foot addition later this month.
Optometry Board Moves Ahead on Glaucoma Rules
Last week, the California Optometry Board opted not to reconsider rules to implement a state law that lets optometrists treat glaucoma patients despite a recommendation from the state Department of Consumer Affairs to reconsider the rules because of a potential conflict of interest. The optometry board also moved up its vote on the rules from Jan. 21 to Dec. 30. Orange County Register‘s “OC Watchdog.”