Latest California Healthline Stories
San Joaquin Group Advocates for Single-Payer Health Care
A grassroots group of activists called Single Payer San Joaquin has begun lobbying for passage of state (SB 810) and federal (HR 676) legislation that would create a publicly financed health care system. Stockton Record.
Senate Finance Panel Identifies Proposals To Cut Cost of Reform
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus has announced that committee members have identified proposals that would keep the cost of overhauling the U.S. health care system below $1 trillion over 10 years. The committee’s plan provides strategies for covering the cost of reform. New York Times et al.
Schwarzenegger Rejects Previous Agreement for Prison Hospital Beds
Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger announced that the state would not follow through on an agreement to spend $1.9 billion for two new prison hospitals. A deal could have ended various lawsuits over allegedly inadequate health care in the state prison system. Sacramento Bee et al.
New York State To Pay for Eggs for Stem Cell Research
The Empire State Stem Cell Board has decided to allow researchers to provide up to $10,000 to women for donating eggs for stem cell research, making New York the only state to permit state payments for eggs for the state stem cell research program. Washington Post.
Opinion: Healthy Families Cuts Will Increase Costs
Cutting funding for or eliminating Healthy Families would increase health care costs by more than it would save and exacerbate California’s financial situation, Bradley Gilbert, CEO of the Inland Empire Health Plan, asserts. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Opponents Come Out Against Plan To Sell Part of State Fund
Advocates for small businesses, the insurance industry and state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner are among those lining up against a proposal by Gov. Schwarzenegger to sell a portion of the State Compensation Insurance Fund for $1 billion to help address the state budget deficit. Los Angeles Times.
Central Valley Groups Work To Increase Physician Supply
A number of organizations in the Central Valley are working to recruit new physicians and train local physicians in needed specialty areas. KVPR’s “Quality of Life.”
VA Moves Forward With Plan To Open New Fremont Clinic
The Department of Veteran Affairs has signed a lease through 2015 on a building in Fremont. At the facility, VA will offer medical and mental health care for veterans from southern Alameda County beginning January 2010. Contra Costa Times.
El Dorado County Cuts Public Health Positions
On Tuesday, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors ordered the county Human Services Department to eliminate 8.9 positions in the public health division in anticipation of state funding cuts for public health programs. Sacramento Bee.
President Obama Aims To Resolve Public Concerns About Reform
In a nationally televised town hall meeting, President Obama responded to questions from audience members about efforts to overhaul the health care system. Obama said that Democratic proposals in Congress would not force Americans to change coverage. The Hill et al.