Latest California Healthline Stories
New Report Outlines $1.2 Trillion in Funding for Health Care Reform
John Podesta and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle led the media effort for the report, which the Center for American Progress released. The report estimates that more than $400 billion could be generated for reform efforts through Medicare and Medicaid savings, new taxes and modernization. USA Today et al.
Obama Takes Argument for Health Care Reform Directly to the Public
Yesterday, President Obama pushed back at critics of his health care reform efforts and urged them to “step up.” The president will hold a virtual town meeting tomorrow as part of an effort to rally voters to push lawmakers to line up behind health care overhaul efforts. AP/USA Today et al.
Lawmakers Face Off on Budget as Fiscal Year Draws To Close
Yesterday, the California Senate voted along party lines to pass a Democratic budget package that Gov. Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto. Meanwhile, the governor has backed away from his plan to eliminate Healthy Families and instead is proposing deeper funding cuts for the program. California’s fiscal year ends tonight at midnight. AP/San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
Opinion: Not All Physicians Represented by AMA
Lawmakers seeking to reform the U.S. health care system should not solely rely on the American Medical Association to gauge physicians’ opinions, because AMA represents only 20% of practicing physicians in the U.S., according to physician Rahul Rajkumar and professor Harold Pollack. They argue that AMA is “stuck in an old model of special interest politics.” Los Angeles Times.
California Could See Major Jump in Telehealth Centers
The Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Health Care Pilot Project could help the California Telehealth Network double the number of health care sites linked through its network. FCC awarded CTN $22 million for the effort. Government Health IT.
Healthy San Francisco Gains Attention From U.S. Officials
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius discussed Healthy San Francisco with Mayor Gavin Newsom during a visit to San Francisco last week. The program aims to ensure access to health care services for all San Francisco residents and is entering its third year. Sacramento Bee.
Three Counties Prepare To Develop Medi-Cal Managed Care System
By October 2010, Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Fresno, Kings and Madera counties will be able to enroll in a health plan administered by a regional health authority or a state-selected commercial plan. The new system will affect about 240,000 people in the three counties. Fresno Bee.
Sillen Emerges as Favorite for L.A. County Health Chief
Sources familiar with the hiring process for the new director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services said that Bob Sillen is the finalist for the position scheduled to meet with county officials this week. Most recently, Sillen was receiver for the state prison health care system. Los Angeles Times.
Administration Officials Say Obama Is Open to Taxes on Some Benefits
During the presidential campaign, President Obama criticized Sen. John McCain’s proposal to tax health insurance benefits, but administration officials now say the president would consider using revenue from such a tax to cover the cost of health care reform. CongressDaily et al.
MRMIB Slated To Freeze Enrollment for Healthy Families This Week
The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board is expected to impose an enrollment cap that could prevent more than 350,000 California children from obtaining health insurance coverage through Healthy Families. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” San Jose Mercury News.