Latest California Healthline Stories
Stark: State Efforts Will Build Support for Health Care Reform Nationwide
Rep. Pete Stark said that if California and other major states can successfully adopt a universal health care system, nationwide support for health care reform would gradually increase. Stark favors an expansion of Medicare to achieve universal health care. Oakland Tribune.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of January 18, 2008
San Mateo Medical Center wins financing for its expansion, while officials at Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo hope federal Medicaid funds will help resolve the hospital’s bankruptcy case. Advocates file a lawsuit in Southern California in an alleged case of “patient dumping.”
GM To Offer Buyout To Cut Labor, Benefits Expenses
General Motors plans to offer about 46,000 employees a buyout package to make way for new workers who will receive lower wages and benefits. The buyout coincides with GM’s agreement with the United Auto Workers that will reduce retiree health benefit liabilities for GM by about $47 billion. Detroit News et al.
Federal Oversight Lacking for Genetic Tests, NIH Says
An NIH advisory panel said that there is little scientific evidence of the benefit of genetic tests and that many are being marketed with misleading claims. Further, physicians often are not adequately trained to interpret the results of the tests, the panel said. New York Times.
Senate Bill Aims To Improve American Indian Health Care
A bill before the Senate would increase funding for American Indian health prevention programs, modernize health clinics and train more American Indians in health professions. Two House committees approved a similar bill, but there is some Republican resistance. Indian Country Today, AP/Dickinson Press.
Health Care Reform Deal May Erode Private Coverage
An editorial argues that the employer pay-or-play mandate in the health care reform plan negotiated by Gov. Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez violates federal law and could prompt employers to drop private coverage and pay into a state fund. San Diego Union-Tribune.