Latest California Healthline Stories
Central Coast Medi-Cal Plan Could Be Example for Reform
The Central Coast Alliance for Health is considered a potential model for national health care reform efforts because of its prioritization of preventive care. The not-for-profit health plan administers Medi-Cal benefits in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, and Merced County is set to join the plan soon. Salinas Californian.
Postdoctoral Scholars at UC Campuses Form New Union
Postdoctoral scholars at the University of California have unionized, permitting them to negotiate for health care benefits, wages and recognition for their contributions to academic work. The new union maintains that 10% of the nation’s postdocs are at UC campuses. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Congress Sharpens Focus on Health Care Reform After July 4 Recess
House leaders remain committed to approving legislation to overhaul the U.S. health care system before the August recess, but Senate efforts likely will take longer. The Senate Finance and HELP committees are working to iron out differences in their proposals. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
New Web Site Details No-, Low-Cost Health Care Options
Californians for Patient Care has launched a Web site aimed at helping consumers throughout California find no- or low-cost health care services. The information is broken down into different types of services and categorized by zip code. Sacramento Business Journal.
CalRHIO Names Coye as CEO, President
The California Regional Health Information Organization has named Molly Joel Coye as its president and CEO. CalRHIO seeks to link California emergency departments electronically with health insurers and physicians. San Francisco Business Times.
CMS Offers Plan To Help Fix Medicare Physician Payments
On Wednesday, CMS announced a plan aimed at making it easier for lawmakers to approve a plan to let physicians avoid cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates. CMS’ proposal would remove the cost of drugs administered by doctors from a formula used to determine if pay cuts are needed. CongressDaily.
New CDC Data Show Drop in Private Health Insurance Coverage
Based on interviews, CDC estimates that the percentage of non-elderly Americans with private health insurance coverage hit a 50-year low in 2008. States in the south and west had the largest percentages of uninsured residents, according to CDC. AP/USA Today.
Many U.S. Residents Support Public Option, Few Would Use
A national poll of 3,063 registered voters conducted by Quinnipiac University found that 69% believe that U.S. residents should have the option of purchasing government-run health insurance, but just 28% said they would actually purchase government-run coverage. Roll Call.
Medi-Cal Halts Payments for Dentistry, Other Services
On July 1, Medi-Cal ended reimbursements to clinics for dentistry, optometry, psychology and other services for adult beneficiaries, posing a new round of challenges for clinics that provide such services to low-income patients. Torrance Daily Breeze.
Proposal Would Create New Health Clinic in Coastside
A proposal to annex the entire Coastside into the Sequoia Healthcare District would create a new clinic and an urgent care facility to replace the Coastside Family Medical Center, which closed more than three months ago. The proposal, which would be funded by a new parcel tax, would require approval from voters. San Mateo County Times.