Latest California Healthline Stories
California Bill Would Require Coverage of HPV Vaccination
Last week, the California Legislature approved SB 158, which would require insurance policies that cover cervical cancer treatment or surgery also to cover the vaccine for human papillomavirus if recommended by a physician. HPV has been found to cause some types of cervical cancer. Vallejo Times Herald.
Poll: 51% of California Residents Favor Health Care Reform Proposals
A new Public Policy Institute of California poll suggests that 51% of state residents support Democratic health care reform proposals, while 38% oppose them. The poll also found that 62% of Californians support a public plan option, while 33% oppose it. Ventura County Star.
Catholic Healthcare West CEO Optimistic on Odds for Reform
After President Obama’s speech on health care reform Wednesday, Catholic Healthcare West CEO Lloyd Dean said that comprehensive health care reform is “realistic” in part because of the number of Americans who lost health insurance coverage as a result of the recession. San Francisco Chronicle.
Bill To Limit Insurance Policy Rescissions Heads to Governor’s Desk
AB 2 aims to prevent health insurers from canceling an individual’s policy because of unintentional mistakes on an application. Gov. Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill, but he vetoed a similar measure last year. Sacramento Bee, HealthLeaders Media.
UC System Settles 12 Suits Over Stolen Eggs, Embryos
The University of California Board of Regents in recent weeks has settled for a total of $4.23 million 12 more lawsuits alleging that fertility experts at UC-Irvine’s fertility center stole eggs or embryos. The payments ranged between $45,000 and $675,000. The Board of Regents has paid more than $24 million to settle 137 separate suits from the 1980s and 1990s in which the fertility center could not account for eggs or embryos or gave them to other women without consent of the donor. Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register.
Ruling Coming Soon in Suit on Adult Day Health Care Cuts
U.S. District Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong said she would issue a ruling soon based on arguments and briefs submitted during a hearing Wednesday about state budget cuts to adult day health care services. The cuts are scheduled to take effect this week. Oakland Tribune.
Medical School Drops $125M Lawsuit Against L.A. County
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science has dropped a $125 million lawsuit alleging that Los Angeles County breached its contract by shutting down inpatient services at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. In exchange for dropping the suit, Drew University will receive county building space under favorable rental terms, a long-term payment schedule to repay its share of an age-discrimination lawsuit and the ability to renew its relationship with the county Board of Supervisors as supervisors attempt to reopen King/Drew Hospital. Los Angeles Times.
Questions Linger Over Strategies To Cover Costs of Health Reform
In his speech to Congress Wednesday, President Obama insisted that any health care overhaul plan he signed would be budget neutral, but there still are significant questions about what approach the administration and lawmakers will pursue to pay for the plan. Wall Street Journal et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for Sept. 11, 2009
California lawmakers are calling for a state investigation of Sutter Health after it transferred millions of dollars from Marin General Hospital back to the parent company. Meanwhile, union members are picketing Kaiser Permanente facilities over planned job cuts.
New Census Data Show More Relying on Public Health Care
The Census Bureau released new data yesterday indicating that in 2008 Medicaid and Medicare enrollment showed the biggest one-year increase in more than 20 years. The figures also showed that the number of uninsured Americans also increased by about 500,000 from 2007 to 2008. USA Today et al.