Latest California Healthline Stories
CBO: Obama’s Proposed Budget Would Require Trillions in Borrowing
President Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2010 budget plan would require borrowing nearly $9.3 trillion over the next 10 years and result in an estimated budget deficit of $1.4 trillion for FY 2010, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Washington Post et al.
Editorial Criticizes State’s Efforts on Prison Health Care
A San Francisco Chronicle editorial argues that the prison health care system “should remain in the hands of the federal courts” and federal receiver J. Clark Kelso “until the court decides that the state is capable of providing decent health care to inmates on a consistent basis, and not just in decent budget years.” It concludes, “A fiscal emergency is an enormous problem. But it’s no excuse for the state to try, once again, to abdicate its responsibilities toward those it keeps locked up.” San Francisco Chronicle.
SEIU Local Approves Contract for State Workers
On Saturday, the Service Employees International Union Local 1000 approved a contract that includes a 4.62% pay cut and once-a-month furloughs. Union members make up about half of the state’s workers. Members’ health care insurance contributions will remain at about the same rates as 2008. Sacramento Bee, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
California Tuberculosis Rate Drops To Lowest Level on Record
Despite a decline in tuberculosis cases, California’s tuberculosis rate still is significantly higher than the national rate. According to state statistics, the disease disproportionately affects racial minorities and foreign-born immigrants. Riverside Press-Enterprise et al.
Columnist Questions Effects of Shifting Mental Health Funds
Columnist C.W. Nevius writes that mental health advocates are concerned a proposition included in the May special election will make it more difficult to provide help to patients with mental illnesses. Proposition 1E would redirect $460 million in mental health funding to help balance the state budget. San Francisco Chronicle.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of March 23
Efforts to rework the health care financing system in Massachusetts are drawing attention nationwide. Meanwhile, Minnesota lawmakers released a series of legislative proposals aimed at overhauling the state health care system, and the governor of Utah signed four health care reform bills.
UC Regents OK Nursing School, Address Hospital Deal
On Thursday, the UC Board of Regents unanimously approved plans to create a new nursing school at UC-Davis in part using a $100 million donation from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Regents also voiced tempered support for an agreement to work with Los Angeles County to reopen Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital. Sacramento Bee et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 20, 2009
Coastside Family Medical Center has closed, and the Los Angeles Planning Commission approved plans for a new tower at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Meanwhile, San Mateo County paid $6.8 million to settle federal Medicare and Medicaid fraud charges.
Opinion Pieces Tackle Health Care Reform Efforts
In an opinion piece, the Rev. Gail Benson, Southern California director of Health Care for the California Council of Churches, writes, “No matter what opinion one holds on the future of health care reform, as people of faith, our basic values can inform the future of the health care system.” Meanwhile, San Jose Mercury News columnist Mike Cassidy argues, “The momentum for competing interests to come together has been building for years, and finally we’ve reached a tipping point.” Whittier Daily News, San Jose Mercury News.
White House Democrats Will Delay Use of Budget Process for Reform Plan
Obama administration officials and House Democrats will try to reach a compromise on health care reform with Republicans before resorting to the budget process to pass the legislation. Using the budget reconciliation process would sidestep the possibility of a Senate filibuster. Washington Post et al.