Latest California Healthline Stories
Assembly Leader Says Reworked Lottery Plan Could Help With Deficit
Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines said Gov. Schwarzenegger’s lottery plan to reduce the state budget deficit could be modified to let the state use lottery proceeds to repay loans from voter-approved initiatives dealing with health care. Sacramento Bee et al.
Congressional Democrats Criticize Administration on Medicare Doctor Pay
Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Charles Schumer argued that HHS is mischaracterizing the administration’s action on Medicare doctor payments after Congress failed to pass legislation to stop a scheduled fee cut from taking effect today. Debate on the issue will continue next week. The Hill, et al.
Numbers Assigned To Qualified Ballot Measures
On Friday, Secretary of State Debra Bowen (D) assigned numbers to the eleven ballot measures that have qualified for the Nov. 4 ballot initiative so far. Proposition 3 seeks close to $1 billion for children’s hospitals, and Proposition 4 would require parental notification before minors could undergo abortions. The parental notification measure is one of the more contentious initiatives on the ballot. San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Times.
California Stem Cell Agency Announces $24M in Grants
On Friday, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine announced $24 million in grants for two research programs. One set of grants will fund the creation of stem cell lines to treat specific diseases, and the other will finance projects aimed at helping researchers apply for subsequent grants to treat specific conditions. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Paid Sick Leave Legislation Sparks Op-Ed ‘Conversation’
Columnist Daniel Weintraub collected the thoughts on a proposal to require all California businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees from a public health official, a temporary worker and a small business owner. Sacramento Bee.
S.F. Panel Restores Funds for Health, Other Services
A committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate $37.4 million in cuts to health care and other services that Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) proposed in his budget plan. Services for people with HIV/AIDS stand to have more than $800,000 restored under the proposal. San Francisco Chronicle.
Missed Budget Deadline Could Further Delay Medi-Cal Payments
California already is delaying June Medi-Cal payments to health care providers, and some facilities are concerned that they will not be able to maintain operations if negotiations on the state budget tie up subsequent Medi-Cal payments. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said she hoped to pass the budget next month. California’s new fiscal year begins tomorrow. Sacramento Bee.
California Nurses, Psychiatrists Lead State Workers in Overtime Pay
California paid $2.1 billion in overtime to state workers in 2007, with registered nurses working in either prisons or state mental hospitals receiving the 10 highest overtime payouts. Prisons and mental hospitals must fill many shifts 24 hours a day. San Francisco Chronicle.
Alameda County Holds Talk on Diabetes in Minorities
On Friday, Alameda County health officials discussed diabetes “hot spots,” neighborhoods where diabetes is increasingly prevalent. These areas often include minority populations. The event was sponsored by the California Legislative Black Caucus and Assembly member Sandré Swanson (D-Alameda). Contra Costa Times.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of June 30
New Jersey lawmakers approved legislation that aims to expand coverage and mandate coverage for children. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania officials are debating a proposal to centralize drug purchasing for the state’s Medicaid program.