Latest California Healthline Stories
Janitors End Strike Over Salary, Health Care Benefits
Yesterday, janitors at some major technology companies in Silicon Valley ended a nine-day strike after reaching a contract agreement that includes a 22% wage increase and improved health care benefits after four years. San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News.
Advocacy Groups, States Cite Public Health in Suit Over U.S. Pollution Rules
Health care and environmental advocacy groups filed a lawsuit to overturn federal standards on ozone levels, arguing that the rules do not adequately safeguard public health. California is one of 11 states seeking to overturn the rules in a separate case. AP/San Jose Mercury News.
California Supreme Court Hears Case on Doctors’ Denial of Treatment
The case centers on two physicians who refused to artificially inseminate a lesbian because of their religious objections to her sexual orientation. The suit was brought under state civil rights laws. The physicians are seeking a religious exception to the law. San Jose Mercury News et al.
Assembly Approves Measures To Tighten Rules on Rescissions
California HMO regulators have grappled with the issue of improper insurance policy rescissions for months, and consumer advocates argue that more stringent action is merited. At least two bills before the Legislature would rework the rescission process. Capitol Weekly.
California Lawmakers Sign Off on Mandatory Paid Sick Leave
Under legislation approved without Republican support in the Assembly, workers would earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. California would be the first state nationwide to require businesses to provide paid sick leave for every employee. San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have adopted similar requirements. Sacramento Bee.
Unused Tax Money Could Fund Health Care, Cut Deficit
“Ballot-box budgeting” is “one reason the state is staring at a $15 billion deficit,” George Skelton writes in an opinion piece. Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) has proposed legislation to seize the unused $2.4 billion from a program created under Proposition 10 to fund children’s health insurance efforts, and local schools and government, according to Skelton. Los Angeles Times.
Childhood Obesity Rates Stabilized, Researchers Say
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the percentage of obese children has been relatively unchanged since 1999 among all racial and age groups. About 16.3% of U.S. children are obese, and an additional 15.6% of kids are overweight, according to the study. Los Angeles Times.
Third Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against Sutter Health
A new class-action lawsuit filed this month against Sutter Health for allegedly violating state regulations on meal and rest breaks is the third class-action filed against the health care system over the issue. The health system’s Sacramento-area hospitals also are the subject of an ongoing state investigation on the meal and rest breaks issue, which could cost Sutter millions of dollars in unpaid wages. Sacramento Business Journal.
California Senate Rejects Plan To Construct New Prison Medical Facilities
By not passing the bill, the Senate raises the possibility of a federal judge ordering California to use money from the state general fund to build the medical facilities. A Schwarzenegger administration official says the move would hurt other programs. Los Angeles Times, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune.
Patient Satisfaction Not Linked to Medicare Spending
A study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Medicare beneficiaries reported similar satisfaction with their care regardless of variations in Medicare spending, which range from an average of almost $12,000 annually for a beneficiary in Miami to $5,700 annually for a beneficiary in Minneapolis. Bloomberg/Tennessean.