Latest California Healthline Stories
New Report Raises Specter of Higher Costs Under Finance Panel Bill
America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group, sent a report to its members Sunday projecting that provisions of the Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform plan would result in bigger jumps to insurance costs than would be seen without reform. New York Times et al.
Healthy San Francisco Draws Attention in Reform Debate
San Francisco’s program to ensure universal access to health care services is sparking discussion as Congress debates proposals to overhaul the health care system. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to hear a challenge to a key funding provision of the program. PBS’ “NewsHour With Jim Lehrer.”
New Research Points to Racial, Ethnic Disparities in California Health Care
Two recent studies show that black HMO members in California are more likely to seek treatments in hospital emergency departments, delay filling prescriptions and undergo caesarean sections for first pregnancies than HMO members of other races and ethnic groups. Payers & Providers.
Opinion: Hospital Fee Would Help State Avoid Budget Cuts
Two editorials assert that a bill introduced by Assembly member Dave Jones that would impose a provider fee on hospitals to draw down federal Medicaid funds is an opportunity for the state to avoid large budget cuts and continue to provide help to hospitals that serve low-income residents and provide care to uninsured children. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Schwarzenegger in Contempt, California Inmates Say
On Thursday, lawyers representing California inmates requested that a special three-judge panel declare Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in contempt for failing to heed a previous order to remove more than 40,000 inmates from the state’s prison system. In August, the judges ruled that overcrowding at the state’s prisons violated inmates’ constitutional rights because of the system’s inability to provide proper medical and mental health care and ordered Schwarzenegger to release the inmates. San Jose Mercury News, Sacramento Bee.
UCSF To Launch Research on Pediatric Immune Disorders
UC-San Francisco will use $6.25 million in funding from NIH to launch a consortium of 13 research centers to study life-threatening pediatric immune disorders and develop more effective treatments. The consortium will receive $1.25 million annually for the next five years from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an arm of NIH, which will fund the research and two post-doctoral fellowships annually. San Francisco Business Times.
Pelosi Plans To Offer Multiple Ways of Building Public Plan
On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would send three different versions of the chamber’s health care bill to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring, each with different options for structuring a public health insurance plan option. The move indicates that Pelosi is flexible about what form a public option could ultimately take in her chamber’s final bill. Washington Post‘s “Capitol Briefing.”
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of October 9, 2009
El Camino Hospital opened its new acute care center, and Ojai Valley Community Hospital opened its renovated emergency department. Meanwhile, Valley Health System approved the sale of its two hospitals and other assets.
House Democrats Mull Plan for ‘Windfall Profits’ Tax on Insurers
House Democratic leaders are considering a proposal to assess a “windfall profits” tax on health insurers. A similar proposal is included in the Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform proposal and is projected to generate $6 billion. CQ Today et al.
State Officials Voicing Concerns About Costs of Health Care Overhaul
Some governors and other state officials have come out in favor of federal health care reform proposals, but concerns linger about costs that states will have to pick up. A key point of concern is a proposal to expand eligibility for Medicaid. Baltimore Sun.