Latest California Healthline Stories
State Officials Study Stimulus Funds, Weigh More Budget Cuts
Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Finance Director Mike Genest held a public hearing yesterday to get input on accounting for California’s share of funds from the federal stimulus package. Early estimates indicate that California will not receive sufficient funds to avoid cuts to Medi-Cal and other services, but some advocates challenged the methodology behind those estimates. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Some Nursing Home Workers Choose New Union Over SEIU
More than 350 nursing home workers at four Northern American Healthcare facilities in Northern California have chosen the National Union of Healthcare Workers to represent them. The union was formed in January by former United Healthcare Workers leaders who the Service Employees International Union fired. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Business Journal.
Experts Say Cost of Obama Health Care Plan Could Top $1.5 Trillion
Health policy experts say that President Obama’s plan to expand health insurance coverage will cost about $1.5 trillion over 10 years, raising questions about how the plan will be funded. White House officials say cost estimates can’t be provided until specifics of the plan are written. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Governor, Legislative Leaders Stump for Ballot Measures
In a meeting with the Sacramento Bee‘s editorial board, Gov. Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg and former Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill urged voters to approve six budget-related measures in the May 19 special election. The ballot includes measures to shift funds from special accounts for mental health services and early childhood health and education. Sacramento Bee.
Contra Costa County Slashes Health Spending in Latest Round of Cuts
Budget cuts Contra Costa County supervisors approved Tuesday will leave the county health department with an $8.6 million budget gap that the agency chief hopes to close using federal stimulus funds. As part of the cuts, the county eliminated nonemergency care for undocumented immigrants. Contra Costa Times.
White House Considering Using Budget Process for Health Care Reform
Obama administration officials are weighing the possibility of using the budget reconciliation process to sidestep the possibility of a Senate filibuster on legislation on health care reform and other priorities. Republican leaders said the move would undermine their relationship with the president. Washington Post et al.
Governor Urges Rejection of Workers Comp Rate Increase
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner to reject the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s expected recommendation to increase workers’ compensation rates by about 27%. San Francisco Business Times.
Supervisors To Make First 5 Riverside a County Agency
On Tuesday, Riverside County supervisors unanimously decided to make the First 5 Riverside commission a county department and tasked county CEO Bill Luna with developing a First 5 restructuring plan within 30 days. The move is designed to address the appearance of favoritism for programs run by commission members’ own departments and group. First 5 administers proceeds of a state tobacco tax increase to fund early childhood health care and education programs. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Editorial Criticizes Stem Cell Agency on Co-Vice Chairs
A Sacramento Bee editorial criticizes the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee’s decision to make Art Torres and Duane Roth co-vice chairs of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The editorial argues that Roth “would have been a better solitary choice for the job.” Sacramento Bee.
Study: Religion Plays a Role in Cancer Patients’ Treatment
A study published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that patients with terminal cancer were nearly three times more likely to receive invasive treatments if religion played an important role in their decision. However, such treatments did not improve patients’ long-term chances. Los Angeles Times.