Latest California Healthline Stories
Governor Issues Public Threat To Veto Health Bills, Other Legislation
Bills on health care and other issues are on precarious ground after Gov. Schwarzenegger went public yesterday with his threat to veto all legislation if lawmakers fail to strike a deal on water issues. The governor has until Sunday to take action on the bills. Sacramento Bee.
30 Senate Democrats Voice Support for Public Health Plan
On Thursday, 30 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to include a government-administered public health insurance plan option in the final health reform bill that he delivers to the chamber floor. Next Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on its health reform bill, which omits the public option in favor of creating a network of not-for-profit health cooperatives. Roll Call.
GAO: Many Kids Enrolled in Medicaid Lack Access to Dental Care Services
A new Government Accountability Office report finds that officials have taken steps to improve dental care access for children enrolled in Medicaid but that many barriers still remain. The report calls for CMS to help states improve access to dental care services. AP/Oakland Tribune.
Report: California Lags Behind Other States on Many Health Indicators
The Commonwealth Fund released a report today finding that California ranks 47th nationwide for the percentage of working-age adults without health insurance. The state ranked 31st in the country for the overall performance of its health care system. Sacramento Bee et al.
Blue Shield To Award $29.6M in Performance Bonuses to Physicians
Yesterday, Blue Shield of California announced plans to pay $29.6 million in pay-for-performance bonuses to physician groups in the state. The insurer plans to disburse 42% of the sum through the Integrated Healthcare Association’s incentive program. San Francisco Business Times.
CBO Projects Budget Savings From Panel’s Health Reform Bill
The Congressional Budget Office projects that the Senate Finance Committee’s health care overhaul proposal would cut the budget deficit by $81 billion over 10 years. The report estimates that the bill would cost $829 billion over the same period. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the committee will vote on the bill Tuesday. New York Times et al.
Recession’s Effects on State, Personal Budgets Hit Hospitals Hard
Health care spending cuts in the California budget, increases to the uninsured and other effects of the recession have resulted in a perfect storm hitting hospitals and other health care providers in the state. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Opinion: Bill Would Require EDs To Address Overcrowding
Legislation by Assembly member Ted Lieu would address emergency department overcrowding in California by requiring hospitals “to develop and implement a response plan” that would “allo[w] for rapid response with practical solutions based on the ever-changing conditions” in an ED, argue Lieu and Robert Rosenbloom. They continue that other hospitals in the U.S. have enacted similar plans and “have seen a dramatic decrease in emergency room crowding.” Capitol Weekly.
New York Times Highlights Healthy San Francisco in Q&A
On Wednesday, the New York Times‘ “Prescriptions” featured a question and answer session with William Dow, a health economics professor at UC-Berkeley and former member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush, on Healthy San Francisco. Dow said that he has “made the argument” to enact a plan similar to Healthy San Francisco as an alternative to the public option being discussed in the current debate over health reform. “Prescriptions,” New York Times.
UC-Davis To Receive $2M in Stimulus Funds for Research
On Wednesday, Rep. Doris Matsui announced that the UC-Davis Health System will receive more than $2 million in federal stimulus funding for four ongoing research projects at its campus in Sacramento. The funding will go to research on autism, cardiovascular health, biomarkers of exposure to hazardous substances and factors that contribute to chronic liver disease in women. Sacramento Business Journal.