Latest California Healthline Stories
Moderate H1N1 Outbreak Threatens L.A.-Area Hospitals
A report by the National Health Foundation warns that hospitals in Los Angeles County do not have the capacity to deal with a moderate outbreak of H1N1 influenza and indicates that a severe outbreak could overwhelm emergency departments. HealthLeaders Media.
Calif. Insurers Agree To Waive Payments for H1N1 Vaccine
On Wednesday, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that California’s six largest preferred provider plans have agreed to make it easier for their members to have access to the H1N1 influenza vaccine by waiving copayments and deductible payments. The six insurers are Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, CIGNA, HealthNet and United Healthcare/Pacificare. San Francisco Business Times.
Lawmaker Calls for Approval of Bill Targeting Rescissions
Legislation that would require insurers to continue to cover care while rescissions are being reviewed and require better underwriting by insurers “shifts the burden from the patient to the insurer” and would “help prevent many rescission/cancellation issues at the front end,” argues Assembly member Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate). De La Torre continues that “Californians no longer can afford to allow the health insurance industry to be the judge and the jury.” Sacramento Bee.
Moderate Democrats Warm Up to Proposal for Public Plans for States
After shying away from a national public plan, moderate Democrats are supporting a proposal in the Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform bill that would let states set up public plans. The move underscores the significant role states will play in reform efforts. Wall Street Journal et al.
CMS Announces New Grants for Medicare Counseling
California’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program will get more than $530,000 to help educate Medicare beneficiaries in the state about their health care options as part of a round of grants CMS officials announced Tuesday. Sacramento Business Journal.
Expiration Date Nears for Federal Subsidy for COBRA
The federal economic stimulus package included a provision that covered 65% of the cost of COBRA coverage for up to nine months for recently laid-off workers through the end of 2009. Congress is considering proposals to expand the subsidy or extend the time people could retain COBRA coverage. KQED’s “The California Report.”
Schwarzenegger Latest in GOP To Back Health Care Reform Efforts
Gov. Schwarzenegger issued a statement voicing support for President Obama’s push for health care reform and calling on members of Congress to team up to approve reform legislation. At least three other former Republican officials recently have come out in favor of congressional reform efforts. Reuters et al.
Public Believes California Is Ready To Deal With H1N1 Flu
A Field Poll released yesterday found that 67% of respondents believed public health officials will respond effectively to an outbreak of H1N1 flu even as 51% of respondents said they were worried about contracting the virus. Riverside Press-Enterprise, San Francisco Chronicle.
Gov. Weighing Bill To Combat Overcrowding in Emergency Departments
Gov. Schwarzenegger has until Sunday to sign or veto legislation that would set up a new method of monitoring overcrowding in California emergency departments. ED doctors support the bill, but the state Department of Public Health opposes it. Sacramento Bee.
Anti-Tax Groups Strive To Kill Bill That Would Levy Fees on Hospitals
Most California hospitals support a bill that would impose a fee on hospitals to tap into federal Medicaid funds available through the stimulus package. However, the state’s major anti-tax organizations are lobbying Gov. Schwarzenegger to veto the proposal. Los Angeles Times.