Latest California Healthline Stories
Obama Details Budget Plan With More Than $800 Billion for HHS
President Obama’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2010 calls for changes to Medicare reimbursements to physicians and hospitals, as well as a competitive bidding process for Medicare Advantage contracts. CQ Today et al.
Letter to the Editor Supports Rescinding ‘Conscience’ Rule
In a San Francisco Chronicle letter to the editor, Amy Autry, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UC-San Francisco, writes that she is “encouraged that the Obama administration is considering rescinding” the so-called “conscience” rule. She adds, “Federal rules already shield health care workers from participating in services they find objectionable.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Report Warns of Bumpy Road Ahead for California Budget
If voters reject three budget-related measures in the special election, California could have to seek as much as $23 billion in short-term loans, and there are serious questions about whether those loans would be available, the state’s Legislative Analyst cautioned yesterday. Sacramento Bee et al.
Stimulus Funding Boosts Competition for NIH Grants
NIH will contribute $10 billion to medical research efforts over the next two years as part of the $787 billion federal stimulus bill passed in February. The new funding has heightened competition of research grants. Philadelphia Inquirer.
California’s Regional Centers See Big Jump in Clients With Autism
A new study by the California Department of Developmental Services shows that the number of autistic Californians turning to state regional centers for services jumped by almost 1,200% over 20 years. The state is slated to cut $100 million from regional centers’ budget in the upcoming fiscal year. San Jose Mercury News.
Washington State Doctors Hesitant on Assisted Suicide
In March, Washington state became the second state in the country to allow assisted suicide, but most doctors in rural areas refuse to help terminally ill patients who want to utilize the new law, citing moral objections. Los Angeles Times.
Reports Paint Grim Picture of U.S. Health Care System
A new report compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found measurable improvement in fewer than half of the patient safety measures studied. Meanwhile, a separate HHS report on health care disparities found some improvements in closing the gaps between ethnic groups but little progress addressing the most significant disparities. New York Times, HealthLeaders Media.
Like Governor, Steinberg Sees More Cuts if Voters Nix Measures
A day after Gov. Schwarzenegger warned of deeper budget cuts if Californians don’t approve a package of budget related measures, Senate President Pre Tempore Darrell Steinberg struck a similar note. Opponents of the ballot initiatives have dismissed the warnings as political stagecraft, a charge that Steinberg and aides to the governor have dismissed. Sacramento Bee et al.
Obama Works to Settle Key Republican Senator’s Concerns on Reform
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said he walked away from a lunch with President Obama and others confident that the president is committed to bipartisan health care reform legislation. Grassley said they did not discuss options for funding the overhaul of the health care system. Des Moines Register et al.
Sebelius Aims To Settle Concerns About Single-Payer Health System
HHS Secretary Sebelius told members of Congress a single-payer health care system is not the goal of President Obama’s health care reform efforts. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, House Republicans put forward elements of a health care plan they aim to release in the next two weeks. Los Angeles Times et al.