Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. County-USC Works To Address ED Overcrowding
With 25% fewer beds at its new facility, the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center is working to reduce emergency department overcrowding. The medical center is referring patients, upon their release, to health care clinics and assigning care managers to the hospital’s most frequent users. Los Angeles Times.
Editorial Criticizes Healthy Families Enrollment Cap
An editorial criticizes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts to Healthy Families, California’s version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Last week, Healthy Families Director Lesley Cummings said the proposed cuts would require the program to cap enrollment. San Jose Mercury News.
California, Other States Mull Service Cuts, Tax Increases
Declines in revenue and mounting budget deficits are forcing many states to consider service cuts and tax increases. California lawmakers are debating a 1.5-cent sales tax increase to address the state’s record budget shortfall. New York Times.
Experts Urge California Medicare Beneficiaries To Compare Drug Plans
With anticipated increases in Medicare prescription drug plan premiums, experts are urging California Medicare beneficiaries to carefully examine their drug coverage options during the open enrollment period. In California, the average premium for stand-alone plans is expected to increase by 35%. San Francisco Chronicle.
Small Businesses Face Higher Insurance Premiums in 2009
Small businesses in California, as well as the South and Midwest, are reporting that their annual health plan renewal notices include significant premium increases. Meanwhile, hundreds of businesses nationwide have begun offering high-deductible plans as their sole health care coverage option this year. Wall Street Journal, New York Times.
Military Families Get More Leave Under New Rules
On Friday, the Department of Labor issued new rules under the Family and Medical Leave Act, including regulations allowing military family members to take up to 26 weeks off from work each year to care for an ill or injured member of the armed services. The new rules also allow relatives to take up to 12 weeks off to care for active-duty National Guard members and military reservists. New York Times.
Medical Center Evacuates Patients in Wake of Wildfire
A California wildfire forced Olive View-UCLA Medical Center to evacuate more than two dozen critical care patients. The hospital plans to examine the failure of its backup generators and review its response to the fire in the coming days. Los Angeles Times, NPR’s “Morning Edition.”
California Judge Rules Only Trained Nurses Can Administer Insulin Shots
A California judge ruled that the California Department of Education’s 2007 advisory that allowed trained school staff to administer insulin shots to students with diabetes violates a state law that says only nurses can administer injections. Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle.
Democratic Members of Congress Push Funds for Medicaid in Stimulus
At a hearing, a House leader said that an economic stimulus package set to be considered next week could include an additional $14 billion in federal Medicaid funds for states over 18 months. Another House leader called for including more funds for NIH in a stimulus package. CongressDaily et al.
State Fund To Boost Workers’ Compensation Rates by 9%
On Thursday, the State Compensation Insurance Fund announced that in January, it will increase workers’ compensation insurance rates by an average of 8.9% because of medical inflation. Last month, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner recommended a 5% increase for workers’ compensation rates. Meanwhile, the State Fund will hold its first open meeting next week to comply with new laws to boost transparency and increase corporate governance. Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Business Journal.