Latest California Healthline Stories
HIV-Prevention Activists Target Hispanic Population
California HIV-prevention activists are targeting Hispanics, a population that is disproportionally affected by HIV. Public health officials say the number of Hispanics with HIV could be even greater because Latinos trail in getting tested. Sacramento Bee.
Advocacy Groups Stump for Stimulus With Medicaid Funding
With congressional leaders considering a second economic stimulus package, AARP, AFL-CIO and other advocacy groups are arguing that such a package should include funds for state Medicaid programs. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Congress could meet after the Nov. 4 election to approve a package. CongressDaily.
California Could Benefit From Federal Funding for Organ Transplants
President Bush signed a law that more than triples federal funding for the network that helps coordinate work by organ transplant centers throughout the U.S. California’s four organ-procurement groups will see funds from the appropriation. Fresno Bee.
Challenges Persist for Veterans Diagnosed With Traumatic Brain Injuries
Some traumatic brain injury patients report treatment delays at the VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, but hospital officials maintain that the current wait time for appointments after an MRI is ordered is 10 days. TBI patients also have limited treatment options at this time. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Editorial Praises Governor for Record Number of Vetoes
An Orange County Register editorial commends Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for vetoing a record number of bills this legislative session. It states, “Gov. Schwarzenegger spared Californians at least eight intrusive and expensive new health care laws that would have imposed additional costs.” Orange County Register.
Hawaii Pulls Plug on Universal Coverage Program for Children
The Hawaii Medical Association will pay for coverage for about 2,000 children through the end of 2008, but the state will stop contributing to the effort on Nov. 1. The program was one of the first statewide efforts in the nation to provide health coverage for all children. AP/Miami Herald.
S.F. Housing Measure Could Affect Health Care Funding
Critics of an affordable housing measure on the San Francisco ballot argue that it would lead to significant cuts to city services, including health care. Proposition B would allocate about $30 million of the city’s property taxes for affordable housing each year for 15 years. San Francisco Chronicle.
U.S. Infant Mortality Down, But Still Higher Than in Other Nations
CDC reported a 2% drop in infant deaths in 2006, but many industrialized nations have lower infant mortality rates. Researchers attribute the U.S.’s relatively high infant mortality rate to an increase in the number of preterm births. New York Times et al.
Health Care Premium Hikes in California Outpace U.S. Average
A Families USA report showed that premiums for employer-sponsored health plans in California increased by more than 95% from 2000 to 2007, far above the nationwide average of 78%. The premium hikes in California were about five times higher than average wage increases over the same period. Stockton Record et al.
Ventura County Not-for-Profit To Fight Prison Hospital
On Wednesday, a group of Ventura County officials — including Assembly member Audra Strickland and Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy — announced that they have created a new not-for-profit group, called Taxpayers for a Safe Ventura County, to fight federal receiver J. Clark Kelso’s plan to build a prison hospital near Camarillo. Ventura County Star.