Latest California Healthline Stories
State Governors Lobby Federal Government for More Medicaid Funding
States are asking the federal government to increase Medicaid spending by $40 billion over two years to address increases in Medicaid enrollment and lower-than-projected tax revenues. Governors say additional funding will help states balance their budgets. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, NPR’s “News & Notes.”
Negotiations Continue After Governor Rejects Budget Plan
Negotiations continue after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected Democrats’ budget proposal, which included $7.3 billion in cuts to health care, schools and other programs, because he said it did not go far enough to address the budget gap. The governor plans to order layoffs and mandatory unpaid time off for state workers in response to the growing deficit. Sacramento Bee et al.
Leavitt Stresses Importance of Health IT Interoperability
In an opinion piece, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt calls for including funding for health information technology funding in the economic stimulus package but warns that “unless the funds are tied to standards for interoperability of health IT systems, the expenditures could do more harm than good.” Washington Post.
Health Plan Options Limited for Unemployed Workers
With unemployment on the rise, a growing number of U.S. residents will lose their health insurance. Those unemployed workers’ options for health insurance are limited and expensive. San Francisco Chronicle.
Most U.S. Adults Want Obama To Make Major Health Care Reforms
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 77% of U.S. adults believe that President-elect Barack Obama should make major changes to the U.S. health care system. Sixty-eight percent of adults believe that Obama will have the ability to make such reforms. Washington Post.
Community Clinics Face Increased Patient Load as Unemployment Rises
Patient loads at community clinics are expected to increase as more people lose their health insurance because of increased unemployment, according to health care experts. Adding to the problem, community clinics are facing a decrease in Medi-Cal and private funding. Los Angeles Daily News.
San Joaquin County Mulls Plan To Curb Doctor Shortage
San Joaquin County officials are considering creating a health enterprise zone that would use tax credits and other financial incentives to encourage physicians and other health care professionals to work in rural areas. The proposal, designed to alleviate severe physician shortages in the area, faces several hurdles. Stockton Record.
California Endowment Selects Del Norte for Health Grants
The California Endowment has selected Del Norte County and 13 other sites statewide to participate in its “Building Healthy Communities” program. Over the next decade, the 14 sites will receive up $1 billion in grants from the endowment for health-related initiatives. Daily Triplicate.
Investigative Firm: Workers’ Comp Fraud Cases Increasing
Probe Information Services, a California firm that investigates workers’ compensation fraud, says it has investigated 20% more cases of fraud since 2006. The company and law enforcement officials expect workers’ compensation fraud cases to continue to increase with the economic downturn and growing unemployment. Sacramento Bee.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of Dec. 22
Florida officials waived a requirement for residents to be uninsured for six months before enrolling in a new state coverage program, and Utah lawmakers unveiled a plan for a 10-year effort to overhaul the state’s health care system. Meanwhile, a number of states are considering cuts to Medicaid to close budget gaps.