Latest California Healthline Stories
Tustin Care Center Fined $50K for Choking Death
Tustin Care Center has been fined $50,000 by the state Department of Public Health after an unidentified resident died from choking on his lunch because the center failed to properly assess his ability to eat. Orange County Register.
CBO Projects Cost of Senate Finance Panel’s Draft Plan at $900 Billion
The estimate from the Congressional Budget Office is lower than CBO’s estimate for proposals by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and House Democrats. Republican senators stressed that a bill has not been finalized. Politico et al.
Health Net Again Files Protest Over Loss of Tricare Contract
On Tuesday, Health Net filed a second protest over the loss of a $2.8 billion annual Tricare contract to provide coverage for the military. On July 20, Health Net filed a protest claiming that eventual winner Aetna had an unfair advantage because the Department of Defense posted Health Net’s bid online. Sacramento Business Journal.
Poll Finds Rise in Public Worry Over Health Reform Proposals
A new New York Times/CBS News poll finds that although there is still strong support for an overhaul of the U.S. health care system, many U.S. residents are concerned that reform could reduce the quality of care, increase their health costs and taxes and limit their choices for physicians, treatments and tests. New York Times.
Blue Dog Democrats Reach Deal on Reform With House Leaders
Four members of the Blue Dog Coalition who sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have agreed to support a reform proposal that includes provisions to reduce the overall cost of the House package. The panel aims to complete markup today, setting the stage for the bill to go before the full House for consideration. Roll Call et al.
Opinion: Tobacco Tax Hike Would Increase Smuggling
Patrick Fleenor, chief economist of the Tax Foundation, asserts that SB 600, which would increase California’s tobacco tax by $1.50 per pack, would result in “a torrent of additional cigarette smuggling and other unintended consequences.” The Senate Health Committee approved the measure on June 17. Orange County Register.
Obama Continues Push for Health Care Reform at N.C., Virginia Events
In public appearances yesterday, President Obama highlighted provisions of Democratic health care reform proposals that would extend new health insurance consumer protections. He also took aim at critics of the plan, calling on them “to stop scaring everybody.” Politico et al.
Calif. Communities Brace for Impact of Funding Cuts in Budget Revision
Several California communities are concerned that the budget revision and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s line-item vetoes will weaken local health services and other programs. Meanwhile, an editorial urges officials to challenge cuts to Healthy Families. Bakersfield Californian et al.
House Republicans Set To Release Proposal for Health Care Overhaul
The plan would not require individuals to maintain health insurance coverage or employers to contribute to the cost of coverage. Instead, House Republicans aim to rework the medical malpractice system and use tax incentives to encourage people to buy coverage. CQ Today et al.
Budget Signed; Line-Item Vetoes Take Heavy Toll on Health Care
Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a spending package and used line-item vetoes to impose almost $500 million in additional cuts to state programs, including more than $150 million in cuts to health care programs. Legislative leaders are challenging the legality of the line-item vetoes. Los Angeles Times et al.