Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. Council Pushes for Health Insurance for LAX Workers
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to launch an effort to provide health insurance for about 5,000 low-income employees at Los Angeles International Airport by increasing the hourly wage required under the city’s “living-wage” ordinance. The city attorney will draft a revision of the law within 30 days. Los Angeles Times.
Investigation Finds Few Consumers Joined State Rescission Settlement
A Los Angeles Daily Journal investigation found limited participation in a settlement program the California Department of Managed Health Care negotiated for consumers whose health insurance policies were rescinded. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Moderate House Democrats Seek Larger Role in Health Reform
The House Democratic Blue Dog Coalition has criticized House committee leaders for not seeking greater input from rank and file members as the committees work on legislation to rework the health care system. In response, House leaders pledged to be more inclusive on health care reform. The Hill et al.
San Fernando Valley Clinics To Receive $3M in Funding
San Fernando Valley clinics are set to receive about $3 million of nearly $45 million in county funding to help expand primary care services to uninsured residents. Meanwhile, the San Diego Union-Tribune looked at the use of clinics to treat uninsured patients. Los Angeles Daily News, San Diego Union-Tribune.
Ballot Measures Spark Concerns About Health Care Among Minorities
Ethnic minority groups worry that their communities would see greater barriers to health care and more uninsured children if Californians approve measures in next week’s special election that would adopt a spending cap and shift money from a special account for early childhood development. New America Media et al.
Demand for Hospice Care Up in Northern California
Hospice services in Northern California are seeing a spike in demand. For example, the not-for-profit Hospice of Santa Cruz reported a 19% increase in patient referrals in April. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
California Has Spent $10M on Monitoring H1N1 Influenza
So far, county health departments in California have spent about $8 million and the state has spent about $2 million monitoring H1N1, according to Bonnie Sorensen, the state’s chief deputy public health director. The money was spent on staff overtime, flu testing equipment and materials, Sorensen said. Sacramento Bee.
New Report Sees Medicare Trust Fund Going Insolvent by 2017
The Medicare Boards of Trustees released their annual report yesterday projecting that the trust fund used to pay for Medicare hospital costs will become insolvent two years earlier than the boards estimated last year. Obama administration officials said the report builds the case for a large-scale overhaul of the U.S. health care system. Washington Times et al.
Shasta Rural Health Center To More Than Double in Size
The Hill County Health & Wellness Center in Round Mountain is in the final stages of a $6 million expansion designed to meet the needs of the rural community. The expansion project will more than double the size of the clinic from 8,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. Sacramento Bee.
Proposals To Help Fund Health Reform Go Under Microscope in Senate
A U.S. Senate Finance Committee is taking a closer look at proposals to tax employer-sponsored health benefits as part of an effort to cover the cost of President Obama’s health care reform efforts. Obama opposed such a proposal from Sen. John McCain during the presidential campaign. Wall Street Journal et al.