Latest California Healthline Stories
Budget Agreement on Horizon as Lawmakers Resume Negotiations
Over the weekend, Gov. Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders met several times to discuss various proposals to change state programs or reduce spending on health and social services. Lawmakers said they are optimistic about the prospects of reaching a budget deal this week. Meanwhile, some gubernatorial candidates offered ideas for fixing the budget gap. AP/San Jose Mercury News et al.
Proposed Ballot Measure Would Cut Benefits for Undocumented Residents
Advocates are beginning to gather signatures for a proposed California ballot initiative that would end state health services and other benefits for undocumented immigrants. Experts say the measure is unlikely to survive a constitutional challenge in court. Los Angeles Times.
Editorial Details ‘Essential’ Steps for Health Care Reform
Increasing the “ranks of primary care doctors,” … “developing treatment standards to guide doctors, clinics and hospitals” and encouraging “the use of information technology in tracking patient care” are “essential” to “providing coverage to all Americans” as part of reforming the U.S. health care system, an editorial argues. Los Angeles Times.
Stanislaus County Retirees Lose Insurance Stipends
On Wednesday, the Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement Association voted to suspend in 2010 stipends that help about 2,500 public service retirees and other beneficiaries in the county pay for health insurance. Retirees had received up to $370 per month to help cover the rising cost of health insurance. Modesto Bee.
Costs of Undocumented Residents’ Health Care Eyed Amid Budget Strain
Undocumented immigrant health care spending is in the spotlight as lawmakers continue to debate various proposals to close California’s budget deficit. Officials estimate that the state will spend $703 million on health care for undocumented immigrants in fiscal year 2009-2010. Los Angeles Times.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 10, 2009
El Camino Hospital plans to open its Los Gatos facility, formerly known as Community Hospital of Los Gatos, on July 12. A grand jury report found several problems related to patient care at Riverside Regional Medical Center’s psychiatric units.
Court Upholds Injunction Against Medi-Cal Reimbursement Cuts
A federal appeals court ruled that California acted illegally last year by enacting a 10% cut in Medi-Cal fees for health providers. Last August, a federal judge halted the cuts on grounds that they hindered access to care. The new ruling upholds the injunction and requires the state to issue retroactive payments. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Democrats Reject Republicans’ Health Reform Amendments
On Thursday, Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to reject an amendment introduced by Sen. Richard Burr that would have eliminated a public health insurance option from the committee’s health reform proposal. Democrats on the committee also rejected an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn to remove the plan’s pay-or-play mandate that requires employers to provide health insurance or pay an annual fee of $750 per employee. CongressDaily.
Nurses Union Says Hospital Using Faulty Medical Devices
On Thursday, the California Nurses Association filed a complaint with the state Department of Health alleging that UC-Irvine Medical Center has been using faulty pain control pumps that have resulted in at least five patients receiving an accidental overdose of narcotics. The hospital acknowledged several of the overdoses but denied the union’s claim that the facility still is using the faulty pumps. Los Angeles Times.
Obesity Costs California $41B Annually, Study Finds
A study released Thursday by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy found that obesity and weight-related problems cost the state $41 billion annually, a nearly 200% increase from six years ago. The report attributed half of the costs to health care expenses and half to lost productivity. San Francisco Business Times, Contra Costa Times.