Latest California Healthline Stories
Largest Federal Tobacco Tax Increase Takes Effect
On Wednesday, the federal tax on cigarettes increased by about 60 cents. In January, Congress approved the increase as part of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. The state tax on tobacco is about 87 cents a pack, but a bill introduced earlier this month would increase the state tax by $1.50. Orange County Register, Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Debates on Health Care Reform Await Congressional Leaders
Five Democratic leaders in Congress have reached agreements on key components of proposed legislation to overhaul the U.S. health care system, but deals have not yet been forged on how to pay for coverage for the uninsured and other major issues. Congressional leaders aim to have lawmakers vote on the legislation before the August recess. New York Times.
Reform Supporters See Kaiser as Model for Health Care Delivery
Backers of health care reform say Kaiser Permanente’s achievements in preventive care, cost control and other areas make it a good model for health care delivery. Although Kaiser is winning praise, last year it posted a net loss and experienced a decline in plan membership. Los Angeles Times.
Bass Warns of Deeper Spending Cuts if Special Election Measures Fail
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said she is concerned that more cuts to health care, education and other programs would be needed to close a projected $14 billion budget deficit if voters reject measures on the May 19 special election ballot. MediaNews/Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee.
Health Care Spending Draws Scrutiny in Contra Costa, Kern Counties
To help close its budget deficit, Contra Costa County is cutting nonemergency health care services for adult undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, Kern County is tracing a projected budget deficit to cash flow fluctuations at the county hospital. Contra Costa Times, Bakersfield Californian.
Full Speed Ahead for Bill To Expand Eligibility for Cal-COBRA Coverage
Assembly members are moving quickly on a bill that would expand eligibility for health insurance through California’s COBRA program for small businesses. The bill was introduced last week and already has cleared the Assembly Health Committee. Los Angeles Times.
Sutter Health To Delay IT, Hospital Construction Projects
Sutter Health is delaying hospital construction and IT projects because of concerns about the economy and the expensive bond market. Sutter CEO Pat Fry said that “the cost of capital is probably three times what it was a year ago.” San Francisco Business Times.
Daschle Discusses National Health Reform Efforts
In Monterey on Monday, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said the country’s best shot for health care reform is through a stronger “public-private partnership” where private insurers remain at the center of the system but with increased government oversight. Daschle said further government involvement in health care, such as a single-payer system, is unworkable in the current political environment. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Opinion Pieces Debate Role of State Stem Cell Program
Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik argues that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine “threatens to suck up precious fiscal resources of a state with none to spare and is rife with conflicts of interest.” Meanwhile, Francisco Prieto, a physician for CIRM, defends the decision by the stem cell research institute’s Independent Citizens Oversight Committee “to appoint two vice chairmen with very different and complementary skill sets.” Sacramento Bee.
Obama Administration Rolls Out New Rules for Medicare Advantage
CMS announced that it will ask health insurers that offer Medicare Advantage plans to cap out-of-pocket charges or scale back their charges, and will eliminate some plans. A CMS official said the changes are intended to help beneficiaries make well-informed decisions. Wall Street Journal et al.