Latest California Healthline Stories
Stockton Chosen for Prison Health Care Facility
On Tuesday, California corrections officials announced that they have chosen Stockton to be the home of a new prison hospital. Construction, which will cost $1.1 billion, is set to begin in 2010 and is expected to last two years. The facility will house 1,734 adult inmates. Stockton Record.
Lawmakers Weigh Bill Aimed at Accelerating Bump in Medicaid Funds
During the coming weeks, the Assembly is scheduled to consider AB 188 by Assembly member Dave Jones. The bill would accelerate the implementation of Jones’ AB 1383, which imposes a fee on hospitals to draw down additional federal Medicaid funds. San Francisco Business Times.
Auditor: Some Health Workers Doubling Their Salaries With Overtime
Yesterday, the California state auditor released a report finding that some state health workers have logged up to 90 hours of work per week. The report identified 100 nurses and psychiatric workers who at least doubled their salaries with overtime pay. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
L.A. County Supervisors Aim To Cut Waits for ED Patients
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed County-USC Medical Center to transfer as many patients as necessary to other hospitals to ensure that no more than 13 patients wait more than 11 hours for admission through the hospital’s emergency department. ED wait times have been exacerbated by patients seeking treatment for the flu. Los Angeles Daily News.
Report Ties Increase in Unemployment to Rise in California Uninsured
A Families USA report finds that California’s uninsured population jumped by 661,600 to six million this year. The group based its estimates on state unemployment rates, which topped 12% this summer. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Orange County Register‘s “Handling Hard Times.”
Analysis Takes Closer Look at Policy for Cancer Screenings
An analysis in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association questions the payoff of increased screening for breast and prostate cancer, asserting that the screenings have not significantly reduced death rates from the diseases. The article comes as the American Cancer Society reportedly is preparing a statement for its Web site indicating that increased screenings could result in overtreatment of small cancers while missing more life-threatening forms of the disease. San Jose Mercury News, New York Times.
Pelosi Uses New Cost Projections To Argue for ‘Robust’ Public Plan
Estimates the Congressional Budget Office released yesterday indicate that a health care reform plan that features a government-run health plan that bases reimbursements on Medicare rates would cost about $871 billion over 10 years. Democratic House leaders are surveying members to see if there is sufficient support to pass such a plan. AP/MSNBC et al.
200 Patients Sue Cedars-Sinai Over Radiation Exposure
On Tuesday, more than 200 patients filed a lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after they allegedly were exposed to eight times the recommended amount of radiation during brain tests related to a stroke. State public health officials currently are investigating the issue, which resulted in the patients being exposed to high radiation levels for 18 months beginning in February 2008. Plaintiffs’ attorneys said more patients could join the lawsuit after news of it spreads. Torrance Daily Breeze, HealthLeaders Media.
Legislation To Change Medicare Physician-Pay Formula Stalls in Senate
A number of Senate Democrats are opposing a proposal to repeal the current method of determining Medicare payments to doctors and set up a new system unless the legislation is modified to cover the cost of the change. Republicans also are calling for the cost of the bill to be offset. The Hill et al. The Hill et al.
Kern County Approves Plan To Merge Health Departments
On Tuesday, Kern County supervisors approved a plan to merge the county’s Public Health, Environmental Health, Emergency Medical Services and Animal Control departments. The move is expected to reduce county expenditures by $400,000. Bakersfield Californian.