Latest California Healthline Stories
Budget Chief: Health Costs Could Bring Economic Harm
Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag said the U.S. could control health care spending through financial incentives for quality care. A CBO report found that without largescale reductions in spending or increases in revenue, rising health care costs could have a significant negative impact on the economy. CongressDaily.
Suit Seeks To Overturn Schwarzenegger Veto of Mental Health Funds
Mental health advocates maintain that Gov. Schwarzenegger’s elimination of $55 million for a program that provides mental health services violates Proposition 63, a ballot initiative that Californians approved in 2004 to expand the mental health system. Los Angeles Times et al.
Nursing Homes Pay Small Portion of Levied Fines
State and federal law allows the nursing homes to withhold payment of fines for care violations until the cases are resolved. Advocates say the payments are needed to finance a fund meant to improve nursing home care. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Budget Shortfall Could Shape Outcome of Health Care Reform
Gov. Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez want to move forward with health care reform, but Democratic Senate leader Don Perata is reluctant to OK a health care reform plan before detailing how the state will address its looming $14 billion budget deficit. San Jose Mercury News et al.
L.A. County Looks to New Fee To Fund Antismoking Efforts
Los Angeles County supervisors tentatively approved a $235 annual levy on stores that sell tobacco and are expected to give final approval of the plan next week. The tax would generate about $235,000 annually, part of which will fund anti-smoking campaigns for minors. Los Angeles Times.
Survey: Chemical Exposure Can Harm Nurses’ Health
An online survey found that nurses who are frequently exposed to sterilizing agents and anesthetic gases were more likely than unexposed nurses to have cancer, asthma or miscarriages. An author of the study said nurses may be unaware of the potential harm. San Francisco Chronicle.
Hospital Charges Rise 90% From 1997 to 2005, Federal Research Shows
A study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that Medicare and Medicaid picked up the tab for more than two-thirds of hospital charges and that the five most expensive conditions to treat accounted for about 20% of costs. Bloomberg/Orlando Sentinel, Wall Street Journal.
Work on Health Reform Helps Schwarzenegger, Lawmakers
Columnist Daniel Weintraub maintains that California legislators’ work with Gov. Schwarzenegger on health care and water issues is the best explanation for an increase in public support. Ten percent of respondents to a new Public Policy Institute of California poll said health care was the most important issue facing the state. Sacramento Bee.
House Delays Medicare Vote; Republicans Offer Proposal
The House will not vote next week as planned on a Medicare package that would delay a physician payment cut scheduled to take place at the start of 2008. Democrats continue to try to gain concessions from Republicans, who say that their “bare-bones” package is the only chance for passing a bill. CongressDaily et al.