Latest California Healthline Stories
Budget Cuts Hit American Indian Clinic in San Diego
The San Diego American Indian Health Center has laid off a third of its staff and began closing on Wednesdays after it lost 20% of its budget as a result of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s line-item vetoes in July. A lawsuit challenging the line-item vetoes is before a Sacramento appeals court. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Capps Counters Gallegly’s Assertions on Health Reform
Rep. Lois Capps writes that Rep. Elton Gallegly mischaracterized the effects of the House health care reform bill on Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare Advantage plans. Capps argues that the bill would not force people out of their MA plans and encouraged the public to support the reform bill. Ventura County Star.
Uninsured Could Spike Absent Health Reform, Report Says
A new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation says in a “worst-case scenario,” congressional inaction on health care would cause the number of uninsured to climb from 47 million to 65 million in a decade. The report projects that states likely would spend more on programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. CQ HealthBeat.
H1N1 Flu Has Hospitals Worried Over Respirator Supplies, Bed Shortages
California hospitals say they might not have enough respirators to meet new state standards on H1N1 influenza prevention. Meanwhile, a new report suggests that California also could exceed hospital bed capacity during the peak of the H1N1 outbreak. HealthLeaders Media, Ventura County Star.
U.S. Health Care Reform Faces Hurdles Familiar to California
Like California legislators in 2007, members of Congress working on health care reform are struggling with efforts to craft a bipartisan bill, dissension in the Democratic ranks, and concerns about deficits and affordability. That said, reform efforts in Washington, D.C., appear to have attained a level of momentum that California’s push for an overhaul never achieved. Kaiser Health News.
More Amendments Go Up for Vote in Senate Finance Panel Markup
Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee rejected amendments dealing with coverage of abortion services and verifying the citizenship of people who apply for publicly funded health care programs. Committee Chair Max Baucus hopes to vote on the bill next week. Washington Times et al.
Sacramento Hospitals Brace for Jump in Psychiatric Cases
Sacramento County could close the crisis unit at its Mental Health Treatment Center as soon as Friday, sparking concerns among local hospitals about an influx of patients seeking treatment for mental illnesses in hospital emergency departments. Hospitals already have seen an increase in such cases as the center began curbing admissions. Sacramento Bee.
San Francisco Bay Area Wins Stimulus Funding for Medical Research
The San Francisco Bay area is slated to receive $215.7 million out of the $5 billion allotted to NIH for medical research under the stimulus law. Most of the Bay area’s funding will help support health research projects at the region’s major universities. Contra Costa Times.
San Francisco Braces for Reduced Federal Funds for HIV/AIDS Services
Current proposals to extend the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS program could cut San Francisco’s allocation by up to $5.3 million. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is working on a provision to increase the city’s share of funding. San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo County Times.
Grocery Store Chains Turn to Rx Medications in Price Wars
On Wednesday, Stater Bros. began filling prescriptions for some antibiotics at no cost to customers, prompting Albertsons Sav-on Pharmacies to match the offer. Competing supermarket chains Vons and Ralphs did not follow suit. Los Angeles Times.