Latest California Healthline Stories
Federal Judge Dismisses SEIU Suit Against Local Chapter
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John Walter dismissed a federal lawsuit filed by national Service Employees International Union leaders against the president of United Healthcare Workers West and nine other local union leaders. The lawsuit alleged that members’ dues had been diverted to an external fund outside the control of the union’s national branch. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Bill Aims To Rework Medical Board, Other State Boards
A measure by Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas seeks to overhaul the way professional licensing boards, including the California Medical Board, operate. The Department of Consumer Affairs, which oversees such boards, is opposing the measure in its current form. Capitol Weekly.
House Proposal Targets Small Businesses for Help Buying Health Coverage
A bill by the House Small Business Committee would let small businesses form cooperatives to buy health insurance coverage and give small businesses tax credits for offering health care benefits to employees. The proposal also touts wellness benefits for workers. Wichita Eagle et al.
Alcohol Problems Cost State $38B Annually, Report Finds
On Wednesday, the Marin Institute, an alcohol-industry watchdog group, released a summary of an upcoming study that found that alcohol problems cost the state $38 billion annually in deaths, injury, health care expenditures, loss of workplace productivity, crime, and pain and suffering. San Francisco Chronicle, KCRW’s “Which Way, L.A.?”.
Some Medi-Cal Payments Will Be Frozen Until Budget Is OK’d
California officials have alerted health care facilities that Medi-Cal payments will not be made until a budget is approved because an emergency fund for such payments has run dry. The order won’t affect private doctors or pharmacists, but will curb reimbursements for nursing homes, clinics and homes for people with developmental disabilities. Los Angeles Times et al.
Schwarzenegger OKs Ban on Rewards for Policy Rescissions
Gov. Schwarzenegger has signed a measure that prohibits health insurers from offering employees incentives for rescinding or limiting members’ health insurance coverage. Schwarzenegger hailed the measure as an important protection for consumers, adding that rescissions underscore the need for comprehensive health care reform. Los Angeles Times et al.
Some Question Savings of Obama’s Health Plan
Some health analysts and economists are questioning whether presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s health plan really could cut premiums by $2,500 for the average family of four. Obama’s economic policy director, Jason Furman, maintains that the estimates are conservative and that much of the savings would come quickly. New York Times.
Letter Warns of White House Opposition to FDA Tobacco Regulation
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt told lawmakers that the Bush administration has serious concerns about a bill to have FDA regulate tobacco. Leavitt said the administration is concerned that FDA would be overburdened by the expanded responsibility. AP/Winston-Salem Journal et al.
Kaiser Physician Groups in Northern California, Mid-Atlantic Link Up
Kaiser Permanente’s physician groups in the Northern California and Mid-Atlantic regions will enter an affiliation that could boost use of health information technology and expand medical research. The affiliation is set to begin on Jan. 1, 2009. San Francisco Business Times.
UnitedHealth Group’s Stock Rebounds Despite Profit Loss
Despite reporting a 73% drop in Q2 profit, UnitedHealth Group’s shares rose $2.38, or 10%, to $26.21 on Tuesday. The company is sticking to its earlier earnings estimate for this year of $2.95 to $3.05 per share. UnitedHealth is the parent company of PacifiCare. St. Paul Pioneer-Press.