Latest California Healthline Stories
Suit Seeks To Overturn Residency Requirement for Pre-, Post-Natal Care
California law requires women to live in the state for six months to receive benefits through a program for women during and immediately after pregnancies. Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation last year that would have ended the residency requirement. San Francisco Chronicle.
CalPERS Set To Pay Local Agencies $13M in Rx Drug Coverage Subsidies
Medicare offers subsidies to employers that provide private drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, in lieu of the beneficiaries enrolling in a Medicare drug benefit plan. CalPERS does not have a final timetable for paying the subsidies to local agencies. Sacramento Business Journal.
U.S. Health Chief: Medicare Costs Will Divide Generations
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said that the rising cost of health care and the rising number of Medicare beneficiaries could “divide our nation along generational lines.” He added that Medicare spending must be addressed by future leaders. Washington Times.
Senate Approves Bill To Ban Genetic Discrimination
On Thursday, the Senate voted unanimously to approve legislation that would prohibit the use of genetic information to deny people jobs or insurance coverage. The House is expected to approve the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act quickly, and President Bush has vowed to sign the bill. Los Angeles Times.
Public Health Officials Not Prepared To Address Climate Change Issues
In a nationwide survey submitted to HHS this week, 80% of public health officials said they weren’t prepared to tackle the health implications of climate change. California has some public health efforts in place, but local officials still say they feel unprepared. Sacramento Bee.
Senate Fast-Tracks Bill To Delay New Medicaid Rules
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid granted fast-track status to legislation that would block for one year Medicaid regulations that likely would cut federal health care spending on the poor and force states to absorb more costs. The House passed the bill on Wednesday with enough votes to override a presidential veto. Meanwhile, East Bay hospitals said they would be forced to dramatically cut services if the new Medicaid rules take effect. Wall Street Journal, Contra Costa Times.