Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Care Election News for the Week of February 8, 2008
Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continued to spar over differences in their health care plans leading up to the Super Tuesday primaries. The Obama camp pressed Clinton for specifics on how she would enforce her universal health care proposal.
Many State Nursing Homes Fail To Meet Federal Care Standards
CMS said 674 of the state’s 1,400 nursing homes did not meet standards for use of patient restraints or bedsore prevention. The agency will require more oversight by the private quality improvement organizations that it hires to monitor nursing homes. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Contra Costa Board To Have More Say in County’s Health Services
Contra Costa County supervisors have agreed to a request from local health officials to have a more active role in overseeing the county’s hospital and health clinics. Other board members called for a greater emphasis on improving mental health services in the county. Contra Costa Times.
Governor, Lawmakers Cannot Give Up on Health Reform
Robert Ross, CEO of the California Endowment, calls on Gov. Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders to continue their efforts in reforming California’s health care system, starting with a plan to expand coverage to all children and create insurance market reforms. Capitol Weekly.
S.F. Menu Labeling Proposal Could Help Reduce Obesity
Two health care advocates argue that a proposed San Francisco ordinance to require some restaurants to post calorie content and other information on menus would play a “vital role in a multipronged effort to combat” the high rate of obesity. San Francisco Chronicle.
Leavitt Defends Proposed Health Cuts in Bush Budget Request
At a Senate hearing Wednesday, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said that current Medicare practices have inflated costs, adding that Medicare beneficiaries need more information on quality and pricing. President Bush’s 2009 budget proposal, released on Monday, would seek to reduce spending and growth in Medicare. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Wal-Mart Joins With Hospitals To Expand In-Store Health Clinics
By 2010, Wal-Mart plans to open several hundred in-store medical clinics that it will co-brand with hospitals, medical groups and the health clinic chain RediClinics. Wal-Mart is one of several retailers working to expand its share in the walk-in clinic market. New York Times.
Report Details $199B in Prescription Drug Spending in 2005
About $127 billion of the $199 billion U.S. adults spent on prescriptions in 2005 was for five types of drugs, according the Agency for Health Research and Quality. Spending on treatments to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels topped the list. Newark Star-Ledger.
S.F. Works To Build Awareness of Employee Paid Sick Leave Law
San Francisco officials are launching advertising campaigns to build awareness of a law that took effect last year requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave to all workers. The city is the first in the nation to adopt such a law. San Francisco Chronicle.