Latest California Healthline Stories
Public Hospitals in San Diego County Battle for Patients
Oceanside-based Tri-City Medical Center and Palomar Medical Center in Escondido are competing for patients as questions swirl about the leadership at Tri-City. A special investigation looked at the political tensions and other pressures at play in the situation. North County Times.
Value of State’s Hospital Cost Comparison Site Questioned
Hospitals are questioning the value of a new state Web site that lists hospital surgical charges because the prices are several times greater than what insurers pay. The California Office of Statewide Health Planning unveiled the site last month. Ventura County Star.
White House Council Report Sees Economic Boon in Health Reform
Curbing rising health care costs would result in more jobs and greater access to health care services for the uninsured, the White House Council of Economic Advisers concluded in a new report. House Minority Leader John Boehner challenged the premise of the report. Washington Post et al.
Newsom’s Budget Plan Cuts Some Health Care Services, Spares Others
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s proposed $6.6 billion budget would reduce funding for the city health agencies, mental health programs and substance use services. However, Newsom aims to preserve and increase funding for Healthy San Francisco. San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle.
Number of Health Reform Plans Weighs on Republicans
Republican lawmakers have offered a variety of health care reform proposals. However, some Republicans are concerned that the array of options could backfire and leave the party without a cohesive strategy for overhauling the health care system. Politico.
Opinion: Public Option Would Shift Costs to Private Insurers
In an opinion piece, Sam Smith, vice president of public affairs for the California Association of Health Underwriters, argues that a government-run insurance plan “would simply shift health care costs to private payers — and undermine and erode the private insurance system.” He concludes, “America’s existing public options prove that another government-run health plan will only raise the cost of private insurance and crowd out private alternatives — until the public option is the only game in town.” Orange County Register.
Graduates From Health-Related Fields Have Job Prospects, Survey Says
A recent survey of California community college students indicates that graduates from health-related programs have an easier time finding jobs than those who studied other fields. Additional studies suggest that the state’s demand for health workers is likely to increase. Fresno Bee.
Senate Democrats Meet With Obama on Health Reform
On Tuesday, Democrats on two Senate committees that are drafting health reform legislation will meet with President Obama to discuss overhauling the health care system. The Obama administration plans to make the argument that health care reform is key to fixing the economy. New York Times.
Opinion: Health, Welfare Vie With Education for Funding
Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters argues that the economic recession and the state budget deficit once again pit health and welfare services against education. He concludes, “Without adding more taxes to those already enacted — and that’s a virtual impossibility — the Legislature’s liberal Democrats will be compelled to slash tens of billions of dollars from schools and health and welfare programs in the days ahead,” adding, “Their only issue, really, is how to allocate the pain.” Sacramento Bee.
Health Care Industry Groups Outline Cost-Control Proposals
Six health care industry groups submitted proposals for controlling rising health care costs to the White House yesterday as part of President Obama’s push for health care reform. A Republican House leader has asked the Congressional Budget Office to review the proposals to determine by how much they would reduce health care cost hikes over 10 years. The Hill et al.