Latest California Healthline Stories
White House Issues Conscience Rules for Health Care Personnel
As expected, the Bush administration has issued rules that expand protections for health care workers who decline to participate in medical procedures that they find morally objectionable, sparking concerns from advocates about access to reproductive health services. AP/Denver Post et al.
VA Fixes Computer Glitch, Will Repay Benefits to Widows
On Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has corrected a computer glitch that wrongfully denied benefits to an estimated 600,000 widows of veterans for the past 12 years and that it will issue retroactive benefit checks. Washington Times.
Waxman, Dingell Reach Power-Sharing Agreement
On Thursday, incoming House Energy and Commerce Chair Henry Waxman and Rep. John Dingell, the committee’s former chair, announced that they have reached an unusual power-sharing agreement in which Waxman will yield the lead role in drafting health care reform legislation to Dingell. The Hill.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of December 19, 2008
El Camino Hospital agreed to buy Community Hospital of Los Gatos for $45 million, and Kaiser Permanente won approval for a new hospital building to replace its current facility in Fontana. Meanwhile, UC-Davis Medical Center announced plans to shutter its liver transplant program.
Injured Workers Increase Use of Physician Networks
A new report from the California Workers’ Compensation Institute found that physician networks are providing a growing share of medical care for California workers who are injured on the job. Sacramento Business Journal.
CBO: Democratic Health Care Proposals Will Yield Only Modest Savings
Two reports from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimate that plans offered by President-elect Barack Obama and other Democrats to reduce health care costs would yield moderate savings. CBO evaluated more than 100 plans for the reports. Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
Schwarzenegger Pledges To Veto Democratic Proposal for Budget
The plan includes $7.3 billion in cuts from health care and other programs and would relax some rules for small construction projects at hospitals. Gov. Schwarzenegger said the plan did not go far enough in addressing the budget gap. Los Angeles Times, Ventura County Star.
Medicare’s New Nursing Home Rating System Criticized
Some California nursing home industry and patient advocates argue that CMS’ new five-star nursing home rating system is flawed because the agency uses data that is up to three years old and rates nursing homes on incomplete data. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
California Supreme Court Ruling Limits Liability Protections
In a 4-3 ruling, the California Supreme Court ruled that a woman could be held liable for allegedly exacerbating a coworker’s injuries when she removed her from an overturned car. The ruling distinguishes between medical care and emergency response in terms of liability protections. Los Angeles Times.
Some Holiday Gifts Could Contain Harmful Chemicals
On Thursday, KQED’s “California Report” examined the potentially harmful chemicals in holiday gifts. California and the federal government have passed new laws banning certain chemicals, but the laws do not go into effect until next year. KQED’s “California Report.”