Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 17, 2009
Anaheim General Hospital is appealing CMS’ decision to cut off the hospital’s eligibility to participate in Medicare and Medi-Cal. Meanwhile, St. Joseph Health System is laying off 159 workers in Orange County, and Valley Health System is cutting 26 staff positions.
Enrollment Freeze for Healthy Families Set To Take Effect Today
Today, California’s Children’s Health Insurance Program is scheduled to stop accepting new enrollees. Healthy Families currently provides coverage for about one million children. Riverside Press-Enterprise, Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Economy Pushing People Off Maryland County Health Plan
A health plan aimed at low- and moderate-income residents in Howard County, Md., expects about 10% of people enrolled in the plan to be dropped because they cannot afford the monthly premiums, which range from $50 to $85 per person. The county health commissioner says the situation has implications for national reform efforts. NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
Schwarzenegger Swears In New Nursing Board Members
On Wednesday, Gov. Schwarzenegger swore in six new members to the state Board of Registered Nursing to replace members he had removed because an investigation found the board took an average of three years and five months to investigate misconduct complaints. Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle.
Health Reform Bills Could Make Switching Plans Hard
The primary health reform bills currently being debated in Congress could make it difficult for people with employer-based health insurance to switch to plans offered in an insurance exchange, even if those plans were less costly or offered more comprehensive coverage. Kaiser Health News.
Nearly 1M Californians To Lose Health Coverage by 2010, Report Says
Yesterday, the advocacy group Families USA released a report suggesting that California’s uninsured population will grow by one million during a three-year period ending in 2010. The report estimates that 330,000 Californians will lose coverage this year. Sacramento Bee.
Report: Calif. Will Owe $48B in Retiree Health Care for Local Workers
Research from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence indicates that California faces $48 billion unfunded liability over the coming decades to cover health and dental benefits for state and local government employees and retirees. Torrance Daily Breeze.
Calif. Lawmakers Work To Finish Budget, Resolve Health Spending
California lawmakers didn’t reach a budget agreement last night, but leaders plan to return to the negotiating table today to resolve differences over health care spending cuts and other issues. Meanwhile, Gov. Schwarzenegger has put forth a new proposal to create a centralized computer system for public assistance eligibility. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Services for Immigrants Spark Ballot Initiative Effort in Calif.
Advocates are pushing for a ballot initiative that would eliminate health care services and other public benefits for undocumented immigrants, as well as for children of undocumented immigrants born in the U.S. Some people say undocumented immigrants cost California $4 billion to $6 billion annually for health care, education and prisons. NPR’s “Morning Edition.”
Senate Finance Panel Aims for Insurer Fees in Reform Bill
On Wednesday, Sen. Charles Schumer and other Senate Finance Committee Democrats said they likely will include in the committee’s health reform proposal fees on health insurers to fund as much as $100 billion of their proposal. Bloomberg.