Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospitals Ask California Officials To Re-Assess Buildings’ Seismic Risks
At least 96 California hospitals have asked state regulators to re-evaluate their buildings’ seismic risk using a new computer evaluation program. If found to be at low risk of damage from an earthquake, hospitals could postpone structural upgrades to 2030. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Public Hospitals File Lawsuit To Block New Medicaid Rules
Hospitals say the regulations would cut $5 billion over five years from public hospitals’ budgets nationwide, with facilities in California projected to lose about $600 million. The suit argues that the rules would violate federal law by adopting Medicaid payment limits that Congress already rejected. Congress’ moratorium on the rules is set to expire May 25. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Democrats, Republicans To Spar Over Federal Budget
Lawmakers in the House are set to begin the budget debate today. Democrats support a $3 trillion budget plan that would boost funding for many domestic programs, while Republicans’ alternative budget proposal includes cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in order to preserve President Bush’s tax cuts. AP/Houston Chronicle.
California Group’s Challenges to Stem Cell Patents Overturned
The U.S. patent office rejected a challenge to three embryonic stem cell patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. The group argued that the patents would hinder research at California’s stem cell agency. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bloomberg/St. Paul Pioneer Press.
One in Four U.S. Female Teens Has a STI, Study Finds
A first-of-its-kind study by CDC found that 26% of U.S. female teens, or more than 3 million nationwide, have at least one sexually transmitted infection. Some physicians said the findings might reflect the negative side of abstinence-only sex education and teens’ belief of invulnerability. San Jose Mercury News.
San Bernardino County, Needles Officials Debate Hospital Takeover Plan
San Bernardino County officials said they would downgrade the emergency department and replace inpatient services with a family clinic if the county assumed control of a hospital owned by the city of Needles. The city council has until Thursday to act on the offer. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Drug Firm Lobbying Blocks Prescription Drug Initiatives
By redirecting its lobbying efforts toward Democrats, the pharmaceutical industry has been able to help block a bill allowing reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada and a measure that would require drug price negotiation under Medicare. Washington Post.
Research Shows Gaps in Care for Minorities, Elderly Hispanics
New research found that whites were more likely than patients of other racial or ethnic groups to rate their health care as excellent or good, while a separate study found that elderly Hispanics often were treated in highly segregated hospitals. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Oregon Tries Lottery System for State Health Coverage
Jim Edge, Medicaid director for the Oregon Department of Human Services, discussed a lottery drawing that will determine who can enroll in a state program that offers health coverage for residents with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid. More than 91,000 state residents have signed up for the lottery, but only about 10,000 slots are available. WBUR’s “Here & Now.”
Access to Health Care Limited for California Latinos, Survey Finds
Latino community leaders responding to the survey urged California lawmakers to require employers to provide health insurance benefits and to expand public health care programs. Latinos have a higher rate of being uninsured than any other minority group in California. Torrance Daily Breeze.