Latest California Healthline Stories
New Report Compares Hospital Mortality Rates for 8 Indicators
A report the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development released today shows that in 2007 fewer hospitals had mortality rates below the state average for at least one indicator than did in 2006. The California Hospital Association said releasing quality information would help improve care, but the group voiced concerns about some data. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Workers’ Comp Rate Increases Close to Recommendation
Most of the state’s largest workers’ compensation carriers have filed for basic rate increases close to the recommended 5% rate increase recommended by Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. However, the State Compensation Insurance Fund filed for an 8.9% increase for policies starting or renewing Jan. 1. San Francisco Business Times.
Report: Single-Payer System Could Stimulate Economy
A single-payer health care system would create 2.6 million new jobs and increase business and public revenues by $317 billion and employees’ wages by $100 billion, according to a new report the Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy released. The institute is the research arm of the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association labor union. CQ HealthBeat.
Editorial: Expanding Kids’ Health Coverage ‘Unwise’
A San Diego Union-Tribune editorial argues against expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The House has approved a bill to add four million children to the 6.7 million children already enrolled in SCHIP. The measure likely will be approved by the Senate and signed by President Obama. The editorial states, “An unwise idea last year is no wiser this year.” San Diego Union-Tribune.
Kids’ Health Bill Would Limit Doctor-Owned Hospitals
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program bill the House passed last week includes a provision that would effectively stop the construction of any new physician-owned hospitals and hinder plans of existing ones to expand. The Senate is expected to approve early next week its version of the bill, which does not include the restrictions. Wall Street Journal.
Local Health Care Workers Union To Vote on Secession
On Friday, United Healthcare Workers-West’s board scheduled a vote this March on whether to secede from Service Employees International Union. SEIU has accused United Healthcare Workers-West President Sal Rosselli of financial malpractice and fraud. New York Times.
L.A. County Supervisors Push To Publicize Nursing Home Ratings
Los Angeles County supervisors have asked Gov. Schwarzenegger and his administration to support a plan that would require California nursing homes to display information about CMS quality ratings. If it wins approval, nursing home industry representatives say California would be the first state to take such action. Los Angeles Times.
WellPoint To Cut 1,500 Jobs in Wake of Recession
Citing the recession, WellPoint on Friday announced that it will cut about 1,500 jobs, or about 3.5% of its staff. WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of California. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Prison Medical Receiver Seeks Transfer of Sick Inmates
In a court filing Tuesday, court-appointed prison health care receiver J. Clark Kelso said that up to 7,000 California inmates with physical and mental illnesses must be transferred to prisons with access to better medical care because they cannot receive proper care at four isolated prisons in the Central Valley. AP/Los Angeles Daily News.
California Controller Prepares Plan To Delay Some State Payments
Controller John Chiang has drawn up a plan to delay $3.7 billion in state payments to mental health and other social services programs for 30 days because of the state’s cash crunch. Chiang said Medi-Cal payments to health care providers would continue next month. San Jose Mercury News et al.