Latest California Healthline Stories
Court Tells Sacramento County To Pay $2M in Retiree Health Benefits
Sacramento County could owe as much as $2 million to retired public workers after a court ruled that the county lacked the authority to unilaterally eliminate a health insurance subsidy for employees who retired after June 1, 2007. The county is appealing the decision. Sacramento Bee.
Class-Action Suit Seeks To Block Cuts to Adult Day Health Care
Last week, seniors and disability rights advocates filed a class-action lawsuit seeking to block state cuts to adult day health care services. This week, the state is scheduled to reduce services in the program from five days per week to three. Advocates say the cuts could place nearly 8,000 beneficiaries at risk of illness, injury or institutionalization. Sacramento Business Journal.
California Health Plans Paying More for Medical Services in Recession
Recent earnings reports suggest that California health plans are experiencing rising costs during the recession. Meanwhile, consumer advocates are concerned that insurers will begin charging higher premiums and denying claims in an effort to curb costs. Payers and Providers.
Opinion: Public Option or Not, Government Role ‘Inescapable’
Whether the “solution to universal access to high-quality care” in the U.S. is a public plan or a health cooperative, “the trade-off of more government for better care is inescapable,” health care planning and policy consultant Lucy Johns writes. She concludes, “[O]nce we get past that, maybe we concentrate on better health for all Americans.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Pelosi, Other Calif. Reps Voice Support for Public Health Plan
On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that health care cooperatives are “not a substitute” for a public plan and that a House bill must include a government-run option. Reps. Sam Farr and Anna Eshoo also both expressed their support for a public plan earlier this week. San Francisco Chronicle, Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Health Care Reform Proponents Review Options for Passing Plan
White House officials and Democratic congressional leaders are weighing options for getting health care reform legislation through Congress as concerns increase about the prospects of negotiating a bipartisan deal. AP/Houston Chronicle et al.
Obama Presses Case for Health Care Reform on Talk Radio Show
President Obama discussed health care reform efforts in a talk radio show hosted by Michael Smerconish yesterday as part of an effort to rally public support for reform proposals. Obama also addressed Democratic supporters yesterday and encouraged them to continue their push for health reform. AP/Houston Chronicle et al.
WellPoint CEO Weighs In on Public Option, Reform Efforts
WellPoint CEO Angela Braly said that health insurers have offered a number of proposals to help overhaul the health care system but remain opposed to a government-run health plan that would compete against private insurers. WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of California. NPR’s “Morning Edition.”
Healthy San Francisco Mandate Did Not Lead to Job Losses, Study Says
Yesterday, Mayor Gavin Newsom and labor leaders unveiled a new study finding that Healthy San Francisco’s employer mandate did not cause job losses in the city. Officials touted the study to promote Healthy San Francisco as a model for health care reform. San Francisco Chronicle.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of August 21, 2009
Alameda County Medical Center has OK’d a new lease to maintain some services at San Leandro Hospital, while Enloe Medical Center is considering plans to form a “clinic foundation” to help ensure an adequate supply of doctors in the Chico area.