Latest California Healthline Stories
Santa Cruz Physicians Offer E-Mail Service for a Fee
The Santa Cruz Medical Foundation is offering patients e-mail access to their physicians for a fee of $5 per month. The new e-mail service is part of an online system that lets patients check their medical records online, receive lab results and schedule appointments for no cost. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Health Care Industry Groups Among Lobbying Big Spenders in Calif.
Anthem Blue Cross of California and the California Hospital Association each spent more than $5.5 million on lobbying in the 2007-2008 legislative session, putting them among the 10 groups with the highest lobbying expenditures. Legislation the groups opposed during the session was rejected. Sacramento Bee.
Marin County Clinics Hit by Jump in Demand for Health Care Services
Marin County’s community clinics are seeing an increase in patients, potentially as a result of the recession and increased unemployment. Many workers seeking care at the clinics are 45 or older and have chronic health conditions, according to one clinic official. Marin Independent Journal.
More California Students Skip Vaccinations, State Data Show
Vaccine exemptions that allow children to enroll in public and private schools without state-mandated vaccines have more than doubled, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of state data. The increase in unvaccinated children appears to be related to fears among more affluent parents that shots could trigger autism, a concern widely discredited in medical research. Los Angeles Times.
Lawsuit Against Blue Shield of California Dismissed
On Thursday, a federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against Blue Shield of California and several other Blues plans alleging that they inflated profits by systematically underpaying physicians. The judge ruled that the complaint failed to provide adequate evidence of a conspiracy to constitute a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Sacramento Business Journal.
Healthy San Francisco Challenge Could Hinge on ‘Tip Credit’ Proposal
The leader of a San Francisco restaurant group has raised the possibility of dropping a lawsuit challenging the city’s health care access program if San Francisco adopts a so-called “tip credit” law that would let restaurants reduce the minimum wage for wait staff. San Francisco Chronicle.
U.S. Senate Committee Advances $3.5T FY 2010 Budget Proposal
Voting along party lines, the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday approved a $3.5 trillion fiscal year 2010 budget resolution. Unlike the House version, the Senate’s budget bill does not include budget reconciliation instructions for comprehensive health care reform legislation. CQ Today et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 27, 2009
Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento will lay off 53 employees and reduce the hours of 11 employees in an effort to cut its costs. Meanwhile, Kaweah Delta Medical Center opened its new Visalia emergency department last week. Los Angeles Business Journal et al.
Obama Fields Questions on Health Care, Other Issues
On Thursday, President Obama answered questions about health care and other issues during his first online town hall meeting. Over two days, 92,933 people submitted 104,081 questions for the event. San Jose Mercury News.
House Majority Leader To Coordinate Federal Health Reform Efforts
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he plans to coordinate several House committees’ efforts in drafting a comprehensive health care reform bill. Hoyer said he is hopeful the House will approve health care reform legislation before the August recess. The Hill et al.