Latest California Healthline Stories
Fresno Retirees Sue Over Health Care Benefits
The Fresno Unified Retirees Association is suing the Fresno Unified School District over retiree health benefits. The association alleges that the Fresno Unified trustees reneged on their promise, written in board policies and in collective bargaining agreements, to provide retirees with no-cost health benefits for life. Fresno Bee.
Bond Measure Seeks $980M for Children’s Hospitals in California
Four years after California voters approved a bond measure to fund infrastructure upgrades at children’s hospitals, a measure providing even more money focused on the state’s children’s hospitals will appear on the November ballot. San Jose Mercury News.
Kuehl Details Downfall of Health Care Reform Efforts
Senate Health Committee Chair Sheila Kuehl writes about health reform efforts on the California Progress Report. She writes, “The governor’s plan appropriately fell because of the governor’s own reluctance to make the difficult policy decisions necessary for the plan to be in any way affordable.” She also places blame on the insurance industry. Capitol Alert.
Central Valley Residents Face Limited Access to Health Care
A new report found that health outcomes and access to physicians is generally worse in the Central Valley than in other parts of California. Health care advocates said the report’s findings underscore the need for a new UC medical school to be located in the region. Sacramento Bee.
Facilities Grants Central to California Stem Cell Effort
Officials with California’s stem cell research agency say $271 million in grants awarded this week will help get the ball rolling on lifesaving research. The money, which will fund construction of new research facilities, comes four years after California voters approved state funding for stem cell research. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” KQED’s “The California Report.”
Rx Drug Discount Cards Available in Sonoma County
Sonoma County residents can get a free drug discount card that will entitle them to discounts of 13% to 34% on medications at participating pharmacies in the county. The National Association of Counties offers the program, which it contracts with CVS Caremark to administer. San Mateo County supervisors are considering joining the same program. Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Military Hospitals in San Diego Focus on Brain Trauma
Camp Pendleton is preparing to officially launch the Navy Medicine West Office of Neurotrauma to coordinate neurological screening, treatment and follow-up care for service members returning to bases in California and Arizona from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A study last month found that one in five troops in Iraq and Afghanistan suffers a traumatic brain injury. San Diego Union-Tribune.