Latest California Healthline Stories
Assembly Withholds Support for New Contract With SEIU
A vote on a new contract with the Service Employees International Union — the largest state employees’ union — fell three votes short of the threshold needed to forward the measure to the Senate. The bill includes a provision that would not increase workers’ contributions to their health insurance premiums. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Schumer Proposal Aims To Win Support for Public Health Plan
Many Democrats want health care reform legislation to create a public health plan, but Republicans and industry officials are opposing the idea. In an effort to resolve their concerns, New York Sen. Charles Schumer proposed requiring such a health plan to meet the same rules as private insurance plans. New York Times et al.
Low-Cost Financing Approved for California Hospitals, Health Center
The California Health Facilities Financing Authority has signed off on $344 million in state financing for three hospital systems and a community health center. The money will be used for construction projects and to refinance other debt. Modern Healthcare, Sacramento Business Journal.
California Auditor Details Agency Flaws That Could Affect Stimulus Funding
The Department of Health Care Services and other state agencies might not have sufficient internal controls in place to track the disbursement of federal stimulus funds and report back to the federal government, California’s auditor warns. Capitol Weekly.
Proponent, Critic Debate Propositions 1D, 1E
Julie Soderlund of the Budget Reform Now committee that supports the initiatives on the May 19 special election ballot faces off with Rusty Selix of the California Council for Community Mental Health Agencies and the Mental Health Association in California over propositions 1D and 1E. The measures would let the state tap into special accounts for mental health care and early childhood health care and education services. KPCC’s “Patt Morrison.”
California Baptist University Awards First Nursing Degrees
On Saturday, California Baptist University awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in nursing to 34 students. The university launched the four-year nursing program in the fall of 2005. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Medicare Proposes New Rules, Including Some Reimbursement Cuts
Some of the proposals CMS issued last week would cut Medicare payments for some hospital services to correct excessive payments to hospitals in recent years. CMS also proposed new regulations that would reduce Medicare payments to nursing homes. CQ HealthBeat.
California Health Care Personnel News Update for April 2009
California Pacific Medical Center, Northern California Cancer Center, Los Robles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, and Shasta Regional Medical Center have all named new CEOs. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente hired a new VP of quality and care delivery excellence.
Prospective Gubernatorial Candidates Chime In on Ballot
Attorney General Jerry Brown, former Rep. Tom Campbell, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman offered their takes on the May 19 special election ballot measures, including initiatives that would shift funds from special accounts for mental health and early childhood health care and education services. San Francisco Chronicle.
Medicare Poised To Take Bigger Chunk of Social Security Checks
Because the recession and other factors have resulted in low inflation rates, Social Security beneficiaries likely will not receive cost-of-living increases in 2010 or 2011. About 75% of Medicare beneficiaries will be protected from premium increases for Medicare Part B in this situation, but other beneficiaries’ Part B premiums could still go up. New York Times.