Latest California Healthline Stories
Profile of Uninsured Man Aims To Personalize Case for Health Care Reform
This week, the Sacramento Bee profiled an uninsured local resident who recently received a diagnosis for bladder cancer. The three-part series juxtaposes the resident’s struggle to obtain medical care with the current health care reform debate in Congress. Sacramento Bee.
Lawmakers Consider State Funding for HIV/AIDS Care
Today in Los Angeles, the Assembly Health Committee will convene a hearing to discuss about $85 billion in state funding cuts for HIV/AIDS programs in fiscal year 2009-2010. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente announced $500,000 to groups that provide HIV testing and counseling services to at-risk teenagers and young adults. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” San Francisco Business Times.
State Report Faults Cedars-Sinai for CT Scanner Error
A report California health officials released last week said that changes to the settings of three CT scanners at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles put patients in “immediate jeopardy.” The hospital has adopted new policies to avoid similar problems in the future, and the state has approved its correction plan. HealthLeaders Media.
Fiorina Draws on Breast Cancer Experience While Blasting New Guidelines
Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, has suggested that federal officials might use new mammogram guidelines to ration care under a health care overhaul. Fiorina recently launched a bid to unseat Sen. Barbara Boxer. Sacramento Bee, Wall Street Journal.
Reform Could Push Calif. To Reconsider Malpractice Cap
The House health care reform bill includes a provision that would “push — but not quite compel” California and other states that have capped medical malpractice awards to repeal the caps, columnist Dan Walters writes. The Senate has not included such a provision, and resolving the difference in conference committee could be a “major issue” if the Senate passes its reform bill, according to Walters. Sacramento Bee.
Site Aims To Centralize Data on Long-Term Care Options
The California HealthCare Foundation has launched CalQualityCare.org as part of an effort to provide quality data for assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other long-term care options in one place. The Web site uses information from state and federal health care agencies’ inspections. Stockton Record.
Rural Areas in California Continue To Face Stark Shortage of Physicians
Many recent medical school graduates choose not to practice medicine in California’s rural regions in part because such areas often offer lower pay. Meanwhile, new rotation programs and two proposed bills aim to make rural practices more appealing. Sacramento Bee.
Orange County Sees Big Jump in Reported Elder Abuse
Orange County officials expect to receive about 7,500 reports of elder abuse this year, up from the 6,380 cases reported to the county last year. The increase in Orange County comes as California officials worry that many elder abuse cases are going unreported because of a cut in state funding for nursing home ombudsman programs. Orange County Register‘s “OC Watchdog.”
More Changes to Health Care Coming in Massachusetts
Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration intends to increase a tax on employers and call on unemployed people to bear more of the costs for some doctor’s visits as part of an effort to maintain the solvency of a fund at the heart of the state’s 2004 health care overhaul. Meanwhile, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts has announced a five-year agreement with Caritas Christi Health Care — a chain of six hospitals — that will feature a global payment system rather than a fee-for-service model. Boston Globe.
California Rolls Out New Anti-Fraud Measures for In-Home Care Program
As of November, all new In-Home Supportive Services caregivers must attend an anti-fraud orientation session and undergo a background check and fingerprinting. The measures are designed to reduce fraud and wasteful spending in the program. Sacramento Bee, Salinas Californian.