Latest California Healthline Stories
Medi-Cal Cuts Could Hit Care for Hospitalized Patients With Disabilities
Many hospital patients with severe injuries end up on Medi-Cal when their private insurance runs out, but hospital officials worry that reduced Medi-Cal payments to hospitals could put their care in jeopardy. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
San Diego County Board Weighs Expansion of Health Care Safety Net
The County Medical Services program has been the subject of litigation between advocates for the poor and San Diego County since 2005. A judge’s order in March directed county officials to rework eligibility requirements for the program once again. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Survey: Early Detection Key to Tackling Mental Illness
Early detection is the key to better addressing mental health problems, especially among hard-to-reach populations, according to a survey of more than 2,200 San Luis Obispo County residents. The survey findings will help the county determine how to divvy up $1.3 million in state Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention funding. San Luis Obispo Tribune
Chula Vista Mulls Cutting Retiree Health Benefits
Chula Vista City Manager David Garcia has proposed a plan to eliminate retiree health care benefits to new city employees hired after July 1 to save $388,000 annually and reduce the city’s unfunded liability. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Budget Cuts Could Affect State’s Sickest Children
Parents and advocates warn that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to cut the California Children’s Services program by 10% would cause the state’s sickest children to have to wait longer to receive care. Sacramento Bee.
Medi-Cal Could Help Identify Kids for Food Assistance
A bill by Assembly member John Laird would “make it easier for poor children enrolled in the state’s Medi-Cal program to get free meals at school without additional paperwork or hassle,” according to an opinion piece. Sacramento Bee.
Higher Awards Proposed for Some California Workers’ Comp Claims
A state agency proposes using a new formula to determine awards for workers with permanent disabilities. The formula is based on how much workers would earn if they were not permanently injured and would eliminate age as a factor for setting benefits. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
San Diego County Risks Losing Funds for Health Care Safety Net Effort
San Diego County has signed up only 95 of the intended 3,260 patients for a program that offers services to patients with hypertension and diabetes. Nine other counties have higher enrollment levels for their federally funded safety net initiatives. San Diego Union-Tribune.
California Nursing Programs Cut Into Shortage, New Study Finds
A California agency attributed a 68% increase in graduating nurses to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s five-year, $90 million California Nurse Education Initiative. The project has created 23 new nurse education programs, helped to expand 74 community college programs and provided $2.6 million to the California State University system to expand nursing programs. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of May 5
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signed two bills designed to make high-deductible health insurance plans more affordable and accessible. In Florida, lawmakers approved a bill that would allow insurers to offer “no-frills” policies to uninsured residents.