Latest California Healthline Stories
U.S., California Grapple Over Health Care for Undocumented Residents
California is no stranger to the recent debate over whether public health care programs should provide coverage for undocumented immigrants. Many county-level health programs currently do not ask questions about citizenship status. San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News.
Santa Cruz AIDS Program To Close Drop-In Center
The Santa Cruz AIDS Project’s Drop-In Center will close after 12 years because it lost all of its state funding last month. Many of the center’s programs will continue at SCAP’s main location, but the Drop-In Center will close and the project will lay off between four and five employees. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
S.F. Limits on Tobacco Sales Withstand Court Challenge
On Wednesday, a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that San Francisco could enforce its ban on tobacco sales at drugstores, ruling that the ordinance does not infringe on tobacco companies’ freedom of expression. San Francisco is the first city in the country to enact such a ban. San Francisco Chronicle.
L.A. Council Approves Pay Hike To Cover LAX Worker Health Benefits
Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a plan to raise wages for Los Angeles International Airport service workers in order to help cover health benefit costs. About 3,100 LAX workers and their dependents currently lack health insurance. Los Angeles Times, Torrance Daily Breeze.
Baucus Ready To Move Ahead With Markup of Health Care Overhaul
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus said he is optimistic that his health care reform proposal will win support from at least one Republican and pledged to introduce legislation by next week. Baucus expects the bill to come up for a Senate vote by the end of September. The Hill et al.
Editorial: State Should Enact Doctor-Assisted Suicide Law
A new report from Washington state should compel California lawmakers to pass a law that would allow physician-assisted suicide, according to an editorial. The report found that such laws “don’t encourage patients to kill themselves,” but instead foster discussions by terminally ill patients and their families on end-of-life care. The editorial states that although polls indicate a majority of California residents support such laws, “no one in the Legislature has introduced one since 2007.” San Jose Mercury News.
New UC Research Center Will Focus on Immigrant Health
On Wednesday, researchers from UC-Berkeley and UC-Davis launched the Migration and Health Research Center. The center will involve professors from a number of different disciplines. Sacramento Bee.
Physicians, Advocates Fight Over Hospitals’ Hiring of Docs
Advocates for improving access to care and the California Medical Association, which represents 35,000 physicians in California, are fighting over a proposed law that would end the state’s prohibition on hospitals directly hiring doctors. Numerous advocacy groups have argued that allowing hospitals to hire physicians would help prevent shortages that could compromise care, particularly in rural areas. However, CMA has said that hospitals employing doctors represents a conflict of interest. Capitol Weekly, Sacramento Bee.
Lawmakers Pass Array of Bills in Final Days of Legislative Session
The Assembly approved a bill requiring insurers to cover breastfeeding consultations for new mothers. In the Senate, lawmakers approved a measure designed to improve cosmetic surgery safety and another bill designed to increase awareness of hospital closures. Los Angeles Times.
Ruling Lets State Pursue VA Benefits To Cover Treatment
On Wednesday, a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that permits California to collect part of a patient’s benefits from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to help cover the cost of treatment at a state hospital. San Francisco Chronicle.