Latest California Healthline Stories
Columnist: Insurers Resort to ‘Scare Tactics’ To Fight Reform
Sacramento Bee columnist Marie Cocco writes, “President Barack Obama’s bid to reduce the taxpayer-funded slush fund that flows to the managed care insurance industry through Medicare is an emphatic, if overdue, effort to turn Washington around.” However, she warns that the insurance industry “has resorted to scare tactics” to fight such reform. Sacramento Bee.
Reports Paint Grim Financial Picture of U.S. Hospitals
Half of U.S. hospitals appear to be losing money, according to an analysis of government and proprietary data released yesterday by Thomson Reuters. Meanwhile, a separate survey by Novation, a company that manages supplier contracts for hospitals, found that 47% of hospitals plan to make staff cuts and 69% plan to cancel or delay equipment purchases. Los Angeles Times.
Contra Costa County Mulls Health Cuts for Immigrants, Inmates
Contra Costa County is considering a proposal to prohibit undocumented adult immigrants from receiving nonurgent county care, as well as cutting a $2.6 million program that provides health care for inmates of the West County Detention Facility. Contra Costa Times.
Obama Taps Sebelius, DeParle To Lead Health Care System Overhaul
Yesterday, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was nominated as HHS secretary and Nancy-Ann DeParle was named director of the White House Office for Health Reform. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lauded Obama’s pick of Sebelius for HHS secretary. AP/Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
Pharmacists See More Seniors Lose Rx Drug Coverage
Ventura County pharmacists are seeing an increase in seniors whose health plans no longer cover their prescription drugs. CMS officials say the problems are isolated, but the agency has imposed sanctions against WellPoint and WellCare in part because of computer and enrollment flaws that have led to seniors having difficulty getting their health plans to cover their medication. Ventura County Star.
Opinion Piece Faults Obama on Health Care Reform
In an Orange County Register opinion piece, John Graham, director of health care studies at the Pacific Research Institute, criticizes President Obama’s health care reform efforts. He writes that Obama “has managed to increase fragmentation, bureaucracy and cost of health care for all Americans.” Orange County Register.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of March 2
Colorado lawmakers are trying to end a program that aimed to provide access to low-cost medications, and Connecticut insurers are pushing a proposal that would require all state residents to have health insurance coverage.
Obama To Nominate Sebelius for HHS Secretary Post
On Monday, President Obama will formally nominate Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary, a White House source said on Saturday. Obama’s first choice for HHS secretary, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, withdrew his nomination after disclosing he had failed to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest. AP/Sacramento Bee, Wall Street Journal.
Employee Data Stolen From UHW Offices, Kaiser Says
Law enforcement officials have determined that the theft of personal data for 29,500 Kaiser Permanente workers in Northern California occurred at the offices of United Healthcare Workers-West in July 2007. Kaiser provided the employees’ personal information to UHW as part of a “remittance of dues payments,” according to a press release. Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee.
Employers Await Instructions on Stimulus COBRA Subsidies
The economic stimulus package includes $25 billion to reduce the cost of COBRA health insurance by 65% for laid off employees. However, employers still are waiting for guidance from the Labor Department and the Internal Revenue Service on how to implement the program. AP/Washington Post.