Latest California Healthline Stories
S.F. Mayor To Introduce Bill To Charge Soda Retailers
This fall, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) plans to introduce legislation that would charge retailers that sell sugary sodas or juices a fee in hopes of curbing obesity and diabetes. The measure would apply only to grocery stores and big-box stores and would not affect restaurants that serve soda. Newsom did not indicate the amount of the proposed fees or how the revenue would be used. San Francisco Chronicle.
Obama Hits Campus To Stump for Democratic Health Care Reform Plan
President Obama addressed about 12,000 people at the University of Maryland yesterday, describing health care reform as the “defining struggle of this generation.” The president is scheduled to undertake a full media blitz Sunday and Monday. Baltimore Sun et al.
Workers’ Comp Costs Rising While Claims Decrease
On Wednesday, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California released a report that found that the average cost of a claim rose in 2008, while the number of overall claims decreased. The average cost of a 2008 claim will be between $57,000 and $64,000, depending on the impact of judicial board rulings on permanent disability issues. San Francisco Business Times.
Gubernatorial Candidate Campbell Offers Health Care Plan for Calif.
Former Rep. Tom Campbell’s health care plan would allow insurers to compete for a fixed pool of funds to cover uninsured residents in a particular region. The plan aims to extend coverage to an additional two million “involuntarily uninsured” Californians. AP/San Jose Mercury News et al.
CIRM, German Agency Sign Research Partnership Deal
On Thursday, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research signed an agreement to work together on joint stem cell research projects. Under the agreement, researchers from California and Germany would be encouraged to form research teams that jointly would apply for funding. This is CIRM’s sixth international partnership. San Francisco Business Times.
California Health Care Programs Struggling To Cope With Budget Cuts
The September edition of KQED’s “Health Dialogues” includes segments about the possible impact of recent state budget cuts on community health programs, drug abuse treatment, Healthy Families, Medi-Cal and other safety net health services in California. KQED’s “Health Dialogues.”
Reports Spur Officials To Consider Connection Between Soda, Obesity
A recent study suggests that adults who consume soda daily are 27% more likely to be overweight. A group of researchers and policymakers also are calling for officials to impose a tax on sugared beverages in order to curb obesity and fund health care initiatives. Reuters et al.
PAMF To Move 200 Jobs to Sacramento, Save $100M
On Wednesday, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation announced it is transferring 200 patient accounting and managed care claims jobs to Sutter Connect, a Sacramento-based unit of PAMF’s parent company Sutter Health. The change is expected to save PAMF about $100 million over 10 years. San Francisco Business Times.
Columnist Says Census Data Underscore Need for Reform
Data the U.S. Census Bureau released last week undercut common assertions about the uninsured and highlight the decline of the employer-sponsored health insurance system, according to columnist Michael Hiltzik. Los Angeles Times.
New Effort Will Provide Medicare Funds for State ‘Medical Home’ Projects
Yesterday, HHS announced that Medicare will fund state demonstration projects aimed at improving the coordination of health care services and avoiding costly hospitalizations. The program will run for three years and is expected to include 60,000 patients. AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wall Street Journal.