Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate Finance Panel Making Progress Toward Health Care Agreement
A bipartisan panel of six senators is building consensus for a plan that would establish an independent commission on Medicare payments and a proposal to tax high-value health insurance plans. The group also appears to be favoring proposals for health insurance co-ops. AP/Boston Globe et al.
Sebelius Announces $200M for Training Health Care Workers
Yesterday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that $200 million in federal stimulus funding will be made available to help fund the training of about 8,000 health care workers. Sebelius said an adequate supply of health care workers is critical to health care reform efforts. CQ HealthBeat.
Aetna Announces 28% Drop in Profit for Second Quarter
On Monday, health insurer Aetna announced that its second-quarter profit declined by 28% over the same period last year because of higher-than-expected increases in medical costs. AP/Google.
Union Leader Urges Gov. To Give Nursing Board More Staff
Gov. Schwarzenegger should support a request by the California Board of Registered Nursing to triple the size of the board’s enforcement staff because the governor and the state have left the board “without the resources it needed to promptly and fairly investigate and resolve complaints,” argues Kathy Sackman, president of the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. Los Angeles Times.
Kaiser Permanente Chief Mulls Prospects for Reform
In an interview, Kaiser Permanente CEO George Halvorsen called for universal coverage, a Medicaid expansion and subsidies for moderate-income people. Halvorsen said he is optimistic that Congress will approve a health care reform package. American Public Media’s “Marketplace.”
Opinion: U.S. Medicine Should Step Up Error Prevention
The U.S. could “substantially improve the safety of medicine” and reduce expenses related to medical error by billions of dollars annually by creating “an independent agency charged with identifying and eliminating the causes of medical error” similar to the National Transportation Safety Board, argues Jim Hall, former NTSB chair and managing partner of a health care and safety consulting firm. New York Times.
Deal With Blue Dog Democrats on Reform Eludes House Leaders
California Rep. Henry Waxman is negotiating with Blue Dog Coalition members on his House Energy and Commerce Committee, but the two sides have not finalized a deal. The House Progressive Caucus is criticizing Blue Dogs’ stance on health care reform efforts. CongressDaily et al.
Obama Looks To Ease Seniors’ Concerns About Health Reform Efforts
Yesterday, President Obama met with AARP members in an effort to alleviate concerns that a proposal to use Medicare savings to help fund health reform would limit their benefits. According to polls, seniors are the demographic most skeptical of health reform efforts. Wall Street Journal et al.
Brown Raises $10M From Organizations He Oversees
California Attorney General Jerry Brown has raised $9.65 million in donations for charities from organizations he oversees, including health care groups, according to the state Fair Political Practices Commission. Brown is expected to seek the Democratic gubernatorial nomination next year. San Francisco Chronicle.
Groups Launch Study of California Health Care Regional Marketplaces
Today, the California HealthCare Foundation and the Center for Studying Health System Change released initial findings from a report on how local health systems respond to community needs. The study will examine health care access and distribution in six regions. Sacramento Bee.