Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate Confirms Sotomayor as Supreme Court Justice
On Thursday, the Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the first-ever Hispanic Supreme Court justice. No Democrat voted against Sotomayor’s nomination, and nine of the Senate’s 40 Republicans voted in favor of her confirmation. New York Times.
Former Workers Sue Hospital Over Compromised Care
On Thursday, former workers at Aurora Las Encinas Hospital filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that understaffing at the hospital resulted in compromised patient care. Los Angeles Times.
Governors Concerned Health Reform Plans Will Place Burden on States
Governors from both the Democratic and Republican parties are concerned that national health reform efforts will require states to expand Medicaid eligibility without providing additional funding. The governors say their states already are under financial strain. New York Times et al.
Hamburg Says FDA To Take More Aggressive Approach
On Thursday, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said she will alter her agency’s processes to more efficiently enforce regulations to protect the safety of food, drugs and medical devices. Washington Post.
Riverside County Seeing More Patients in Need of Discounted Care
Since 2006, the number of low-income residents eligible for Riverside County’s medically indigent care program has more than doubled. Meanwhile, California’s public hospitals are facing budgetary strain from declining revenues and state funding cuts. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Advocate Urges Californians To Support House Reform
Given California’s high percentage of uninsured residents, the state could benefit greatly from the health care reform legislation under consideration in the House, Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, asserts. Capitol Weekly.
Medical Associations Fight Hospital Hiring Law
Medical associations that represent physicians in California and Texas have been fighting against proposed legislation that would allow rural hospitals to hire doctors directly, arguing that physicians would be forced to act in the hospital’s interests instead of their patients’. American Medical News.
More Californians Back Access to Life-Ending Medications
A Field Poll released yesterday found that 69% of Californians support terminally ill patients having access to lethal doses of medications, up from 63% in 1975. The poll also found that support for abortion rights has increased substantially from 1975. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Obama Tells Indiana Crowd Health Care Overhaul Will Pass
Speaking at an Indiana rally yesterday, President Obama said Democrats would deliver on health care reform this year, even if Republican lawmakers withhold support for legislation. Democrats could use the budget reconciliation process to get a bill through the Senate. Reuters et al.
Gov.’s Line-Item Vetoes Illegal, Legislative Counsel Concludes
Yesterday, the Legislature’s legal counsel asserted that Gov. Schwarzenegger overstepped his power when he used line-item vetoes to deepen funding cuts to health care services and other programs. Although the governor’s office maintains that Schwarzenegger acted legally, groups affected by the funding reductions are expected to file legal action. Los Angeles Times et al.