Latest California Healthline Stories
Editorial: Court Ruling on Balance Billing a ‘Victory’
“Californians won a major health care victory on Wednesday” when a Sacramento Superior Court judge upheld a new state regulation prohibiting the practice of balance billing, according to an editorial. It concludes, “The new regulation and the court ruling are steps in the right direction, ensuring that patients don’t get stuck with paying twice when doctors and insurers can’t agree on a payment.” Sacramento Bee.
Obama Selects Shinseki To Head Veterans Affairs
President-elect Barack Obama named retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki as his nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. Shinseki, a career military officer, is best known for clashing with the Bush administration over the Pentagon’s Iraq war strategy. Washington Post.
Daschle Set To Kick Off Obama Administration’s Health Reform Efforts
As President-elect Obama’s pick to lead HHS, former Sen. Tom Daschle will highlight the importance of pursuing health care reform despite the U.S. recession and other economic challenges. Daschle is scheduled to speak today in Denver. Wall Street Journal.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of December 5, 2008
Anaheim General Hospital has lost its Joint Commission accreditation. Meanwhile, the Placerville City Council approved plans to expand Marshall Medical Center’s acute care wing, and Sharp Healthcare received a $10 million donation for a new patient tower at Sharp Memorial.
Democratic Tilt of Electorate Helped Defeat Proposition 4
A survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that the strong Democratic tilt of the California electorate was responsible for the defeat of Proposition 4, a measure that would have required parental notification of minors seeking an abortion. According to the survey, 66% of Republicans supported the measure, while 65% of Democrats opposed it. Ventura County Star.
Hospital Stays for On-the-Job Injuries Down, Report Finds
The number of hospital stays for work-related injuries in the state decreased significantly between 2002 and 2006, according to a report from the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. The report attributed the decrease to fewer workers’ compensation claims overall and reforms to the workers’ compensation system. Sacramento Business Journal.
Number of Retail Health Clinics Increases, Study Finds
The number of retail health clinics in the U.S. increased from to 1,104 as of Nov. 1 to 1,135 as of Dec. 1, according to research and consulting firm Merchant Medicine. Most of the growth can be attributed to Walgreens, which increased its number of in-store clinics from 172 in mid-June to 293 as of the beginning of this week. The company expects to have 400 clinics nationwide by Aug. 31, 2009. Chicago Tribune.
Local Leaders Call for More Health Clinics in Los Angeles County
At a monthly breakfast in Long Beach, local government and hospital officials said that more community health clinics could help reduce overcrowding in emergency departments in Los Angeles County. Eleven hospital EDs have closed in the county in the past five years. Long Beach Press-Telegram.
RWJF Grant Aims To Help Curb Childhood Obesity
The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program will use a $400,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant to train more obesity-prevention advocates in the San Joaquin Valley. The area has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the country. Fresno Bee, Stockton Record.
Medicare Officials Shoot To Resolve Payment Backlog by End of Year
Millions of dollars in payments to health care providers in California, Nevada and Hawaii are on hold after Medicare made major changes affecting the providers this year. A program official said Medicare is aiming to resolve the problem by Dec. 31. Santa Cruz Sentinel.