Latest California Healthline Stories
Audit Faults Policies, Operations of California Workers’ Comp Insurer
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is set to release an audit of the State Compensation Insurance Fund finding that the state-backed insurer paid almost $20 million in penalties this year, partly for late payments to health care providers. Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times.
Homes Near Freeways Can Increase Health Risks
The South Coast Air Quality Management District hopes it can deter cities and counties from building homes within 500 feet of freeways because of health concerns. The district’s recommendation has failed to catch on so far. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
S.F. Hospital Official Criticizes News Report
In a letter to the editor, an executive at California Pacific Medical Center faults a recent news story that profiled a CPMC patient who was hit with more than $1 million in medical expenses after exceeding a lifetime cap on his health insurance. The hospital wrote off most of the charges. Wall Street Journal.
State Regulators to Weigh Safety Warning for Caffeine
A state committee is reviewing caffeine, the plastics additive Bisphenol A and six other chemicals under Proposition 65, California’s antitoxic law. Some studies have linked the chemicals with reproductive risks. Sacramento Bee.
California Health Care Reform Debate Could Shift to Kids’ Coverage
Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders are continuing negotiations on a broad health care reform plan, but some stakeholders are considering an alternative that would use a new hospital tax to help expand coverage specifically for children. Ventura County Star, KPBS News.
Intensive Care Checklists Save Michigan Over $100M
Peter Pronovost, an intensive care physician, developed checklists of procedures that are supposed to take place in the care of intensive care unit patients. Michigan ICUs implemented the system and cut infection rates to 0%. NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
State Failed To Obey Statute To Regulate Nursing Home Staffing
A Sacramento judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging nursing home understaffing because state regulators never issued the rules needed to enforce such staffing levels. In another case, a judge ordered the state to draft new rules establishing nurse-to-patient ratios, but a funding shortfall could delay the roll out of those regulations. Sacramento Bee.
President Bush Threatens To Veto Omnibus Spending Bill
The administration said the $522 billion package is “not fiscally responsible.” The package includes the 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and 10 other unapproved spending bills. House Democrats will try to rally Republican support for the measure in a vote scheduled for Tuesday. Washington Post et al.
Stem Cell Agency Rejects Grants, Cites Conflict of Interest
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine rejected applications for stem cell research grants that contained letters of recommendation from university officials who also sit on the agency’s oversight board. Such letters violate agency rules. Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union-Tribune.
GOP Candidates Touch on Hispanic Health in Debate
In a Spanish-language debate focusing on Hispanic issues, Republican presidential candidates discussed access to care and revisions to the tax code to expand health insurance. The debate primarily focused on immigration issues. Wall Street Journal et al.