Latest California Healthline Stories
San Diego County Trauma Network Marks 25 Years
San Diego County’s network of six trauma centers has been up and running for 25 years and has provided treatment for tens of thousands of patients. Efforts to create the system in 1983 faced serious opposition, including lawsuits and legislation aimed at derailing the effort. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Health Centers Nab Almost $26 Million in Federal Funds
On Friday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $25.7 million in grants to health centers nationwide. California facilities won grants to expand behavioral health, oral health, pharmacy and other services. HHS release.
Obama Aims To Debunk Criticism of Democratic Health Reform Efforts
In his weekly address, President Obama took aim at misinformation about Democratic health care reform efforts that critics have used to rally public opposition in recent weeks. The Republican response said Obama is not being wholly honest with the public. Roll Call et al.
House Majority Leader Raises Possibility of Dropping Public Option
In a media conference call, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer voiced support for a government-run health plan but raised questions about whether the plan had sufficient support in Congress. Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain urged President Obama to abandon efforts to pass a public option. The Hill et al.
Advocate: Stigma Stops Funds for Lung Cancer Research
Two bills currently under consideration by the state Legislature would raise the tobacco tax, but “little, if any, of the revenue generated under these bills would actually go toward lung cancer research,” writes Kim Norris, president of the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, it “remains the most under-funded and under-researched cancer” because it “still carries the stigma that somehow you brought the disease on yourself.” She continues, “The bottom line is that all cancer victims should be treated equally, regardless of personal habits.” Los Angeles Times.
Fresno County Axes Mental Health Program for Children
Fresno County officials plan to end a mental health program for children because of a reduction to the state’s contribution to managed care in the county. Officials also plan to delay plans for an adult psychiatric unit. Fresno Bee.
Program Allows Med Students To Be Nursing Home Residents
A program in New York allows medical students to live for a short period of time as a resident in a nursing home. Participants are given a “diagnosis” of an illness and are expected to live as does someone with that ailment. Geriatric specialists hope the program and other similar programs will help generate interest in the profession, which recently has seen significant shortages. New York Times.
Palo Alto Care Center To Close; Cites State Cuts to Medi-Cal
Casa Olga Intermediate Care Facility in Palo Alto, Calif., will close in three months because of cuts to the Medi-Cal program. The facility provides psychiatric care to 88 residents, all of whom are covered by Medi-Cal and cannot live independently but do not require high-level care provided by skilled nursing homes. The closing comes because of a 5% cut to such programs in last year’s state budget. San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News.
State Health Funds Give Low Share to Riverside, San Bernardino Counties
Although Riverside and San Bernardino counties have high poverty rates, the region receives less state funding per capita for health care programs for low-income residents than most other counties. Observers say lawmakers are unlikely to revise funding formulas in the near future. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Opinion: San Francisco Could Pose as Model for Reform
Although concerns over costs to employers and the potential for crowd-out with a public insurance plan “can be a sticking point” in the debate over health reform, San Francisco’s near-universal health care access program “should put some of those fears to rest,” write William Dow, Arindrajit Dube and Carrie Hoverman of UC-Berkeley. They conclude, “The San Francisco experiment has demonstrated that requiring a shared-responsibility model … has not led to the kind of job losses many fear,” adding, “The public option has also passed the market test, while not crowding out private options.” New York Times.