Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate HELP Committee Including Long-Term Care in Reform Proposal
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee completed its markup of a plan to offer long-term care insurance benefits as part of its health care reform legislation. President Obama supports the plan. CongressDaily et al.
Pension Reform Should Be Part of Budget, Editorial Says
The Legislature should consider Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal to rework pension agreements with state workers, an editorial states, arguing that California could save as much as $68 billion over 30 years by adopting the governor’s plan for retiree health benefits. San Jose Mercury News.
L.A. County’s Search for New Health Dept. Chief Continues
Aides to two Los Angeles County supervisors said the board has rejected Robert Sillen, the former receiver for the state prison health care system, as the director of the county Department of Health Services. The department has not had a permanent leader for more than a year. Los Angeles Times.
Riverside, Merced Keep Up Efforts To Launch New UC Medical Schools
UC-Riverside has spent more than $350,000 on a public relations push to gain approval for establishing a medical school. Meanwhile, a community group is holding a series of meetings to build support for a new medical school at UC-Merced. Riverside Press-Enterprise et al.
Pfizer Withdraws From Effort for Biotech Center at UCSF
Drugmaker Pfizer has ended its effort to open a new biotechnology research center at UC-San Francisco’s Mission Bay Campus. Through Pfizer’s planned acquisition of Wyeth, it will absorb Wyeth’s biotech research operation. San Francisco Chronicle.
Alzheimer’s Advocates Seek Changes to Medicare Rules
Advocates for people with Alzheimer’s disease are lobbying members of Congress to change rules that require people younger than age 65 with disabilities to wait two years before qualifying for Medicare. Many people with early onset Alzheimer’s become uninsured if they become unemployed. NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
Obama Administration Pushes for Payment System Overhaul
The administration of President Obama is supporting proposals to “bundle” health care payments, meaning that payments would be made for treating a condition rather than for each service that a care provider delivers. Ventura County Star.
Hospital Groups Reach Deal for Savings To Help Fund Reform
The American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals and the Catholic Health Association have signed on to an agreement that would reduce expected cost increases by more than $150 billion over 10 years to help cover the cost of health care reform. Vice President Biden is expected to formally announce the deal tomorrow. AP/Boston Globe et al.
Fresno County Psychiatric Rx Policy Sparks Praise, Concerns
Fresno County has adopted a policy that provides only lower-cost psychiatric medications for jail inmates; if an inmate declines the lower-cost drug, no medication is provided. Corrections officials are lauding the change for cutting medication costs by $70,000 per month, but advocates say it is compromising care for inmates. Fresno Bee.
HHS Announces Funds Aimed at Expanding Kids Health Care Coverage
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said her agency is accepting applications for the first round of grants aimed at enrolling eligible kids in the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid. Individual grants will range from $25,000 to $1 million in the first round of awards. HealthLeaders Media et al.