Latest California Healthline Stories
Grant Funds School Nurses To Boost Health Care Access
The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health will provide more than $2.5 million for school nurses at four San Jose schools for five years in hopes of improving children’s health care. San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Business Times.
Schwarzenegger Critical of Parts of Democrats’ Health Plan
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s administration said the governor’s proposal to lease the state lottery to help cover the cost of overhauling the state health care system is a more reliable revenue source than the tobacco tax hike that Democrats advocate in their revised proposal. Meanwhile, Assembly Republicans released a health care reform plan. Sacramento Bee et al.
Presidential Hopefuls, Spouses Discuss Health Care
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama calls for limiting lobbyists’ influence on health care, while former Sen. John Edwards steps up criticism of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s position on health reform. Meanwhile, candidates’ wives discuss breast cancer research. AP/Google.com et al.
House Approves Budget Package With Health, Veterans Care Spending
The $215.4 billion package includes the Labor-HHS-Education and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bills. Because of Republican opposition, the package failed to win the two-thirds majority needed to override President Bush’s threatened veto. AP/Arizona Daily Star et al.
Oregon Rejects Tobacco Tax Increase To Fund Children’s Health Care
Oregon voters defeated a measure on the state ballot that would have raised the state tobacco tax to expand health insurance coverage to about 100,000 children. Tobacco companies outspent supporters of the measure by a 4-1 margin. AP/Houston Chronicle, AP/Raleigh News & Observer.
More Retail Clinics Opening Doors in San Diego County
At least three groups are planning to open health care clinics in retail settings in San Diego County in the next six months. The growth of retail clinics in California has been slower than in other states because of state rules on clinic ownership and oversight of some health care workers. San Diego Union-Tribune.
House Leaders Pose Deadline for Kids’ Health Negotiations
A proof-of-citizenship requirement remains the most contentious provision in talks between Democratic and Republican leaders over revisions to a bill to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. CongressDaily, AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
New Jersey, Texas Weigh In on Health Care Measures
New Jersey voters rejected a ballot initiative to issue state bonds to fund stem cell research, while Texas voters approved selling $3 billion in state bonds to develop a new cancer research center. AP/Houston Chronicle et al.
Quality Committee To Propose Revision to Physician Payments
The National Committee for Quality Assurance’s proposal would reimburse physicians for communicating with patients after office hours and managing chronic conditions. Several physician groups endorsed the proposal, which was developed with input from insurers. New York Times.
Mental Health Center Chain Settles Medi-Cal Fraud Suit
Stars Behavioral Health Group reached a $1 million settlement in a lawsuit filed in 2003 by a former employee accusing the company of billing Medi-Cal for treatment on weekends when the patients were not present. The federal and state governments also had joined the suit. San Francisco Chronicle.