Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of September 25, 2009
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula closed a wing as the first part of a cost-saving strategy aimed at cutting its budget by 8%. Meanwhile, Sharp Grossmont Hospital opened a new patient tower.
White House Deal With Drugmakers Survives Challenge in Committee
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus and two other Democrats joined all Republican members of the panel in voting against an amendment to health care reform legislation that would have sought greater concessions from the drug industry. New York Times et al.
IHA Announces Top Medical Groups, IPAs at Annual Event
At the Integrated Healthcare Association’s annual meeting on Thursday, the group announced the names of physician organizations that scored in the top 20% of its rankings on four health care performance criteria. Top-performing organizations will receive incentive payments. San Francisco Business Times.
Court Maintains Block of State Efforts To Cut Medi-Cal Rates
A federal appeals court said it will not reconsider a previous injunction blocking state cuts to Medi-Cal reimbursements. The previous ruling concluded that the state did not sufficiently study how the rate reductions would affect beneficiaries’ access to care. Sacramento Business Journal.
President, CEO of State Fund Announces Resignation
Janet Frank, president and CEO of the quasi-public State Compensation Insurance Fund, announced that she would resign effective Oct. 23. The insurer’s board plans to announce an interim president at its Oct. 21 meeting and begin a search for a new leader. State Fund is the workers’ compensation insurer of last resort in California. Sacramento Business Journal.
Advocates Praise Approval of Funding for Healthy Families
Wendy Lazarus, founder and co-president of the Children’s Partnership, called the passage and enactment of AB 1422 to fund Healthy Families “one true victory” in a tough legislative session. Meanwhile, Richard Pan, an assistant professor at UC-Davis School of Medicine, urged Congress to address children’s health care in reform legislation. Capitol Weekly.
PBS Set To Air 90-Minute Health Care Reform Special
Tonight, PBS’ “NOW,” “Tavis Smiley” and “Nightly Business Report” are teaming up on a special report on health care reform. The broadcast will highlight cultural, political and economic issues at play in the debate over health care reform. PBS.
Stakeholders: Uncapped Premiums, Mandates Will Result in High Costs
Most current health care reform proposals would require all U.S. residents to have coverage, but lawmakers are hesitant to impose a cap on health insurance premiums. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and others warn that this could lead to escalating health costs. Los Angeles Times.
Successor for Kennedy Bolsters Prospects of Reform
This morning, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick tapped former Democratic National Committee Chair Paul Kirk as the temporary successor to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. A special election will be held in January. Kirk will give the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, an important threshold as health care reform is debated. Washington Post‘s “The Fix.”
Biden Deployed To Talk Health Care to Seniors
Vice President Biden stumped for health care reform at a Maryland retirement home yesterday, explaining that Democratic health care reform proposals would not create “death panels” and seeking to reassure seniors about their Medicare benefits. At the appearance, Biden and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also released a report outlining how health care reform would affect seniors. NPR’s “Morning Edition,” HHS release.