Latest California Healthline Stories
State May Require Counties To Report Staph Infections
State public health officials are considering tracking drug-resistant strains of staph in response to an increase in serious cases of infection nationwide. California currently does not track staph because less-severe forms of the bacteria are very common. Sacramento Bee.
Leavitt: Bush Will Veto Any Kids’ Health Bill With Tobacco Tax Hike
House and Senate negotiators are working on a third version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program bill. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt restated President Bush’s opposition to increasing the tobacco tax, explaining that Bush doesn’t think a tax increase is needed. CQ Today, et al.
House Expected To Approve Health, Veterans Budgets
The budget package includes $150.7 billion in discretionary spending for the Labor-HHS-Education bill and $64.7 billion in discretionary spending for the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill. The Senate likely will approve the package later this week and send it to President Bush, who has threatened a veto. CQ Today, CongressDaily.
California Approves Rules for Wait List for Kids’ Health Coverage
In the face of the federal stalemate over reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, California officials OK’d rules that will let the state begin ending coverage for some children and create a wait list for other eligible children. Sacramento Bee.
Expected State Budget Shortfall Could Hamper Schwarzenegger Agenda
The drop in the housing market and declines in other state revenue sources could push California’s budget deficit for 2008-2009 as high as $10 billion. Gov. Schwarzenegger has ordered the heads of all state agencies to plan to cut spending by 10% next year. Los Angeles Times.
President Signs Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Measure
Under the new law, Department of Veterans Affairs staff will undergo mental health training, and all VA facilities will have suicide counselors. In other veterans’ health news, a not-for-profit group is offering no-cost counseling for soldiers. AP/Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Washington Post.
Health Reform Backers Must Learn From Past Barriers
Brookings Institution fellow Henry Aaron writes in an opinion piece that previous attempts at health care reform have been thwarted by political misjudgments. Successful reform will come “from repeated legislation of modest scope,” he writes. Los Angeles Times.
Report: California Health Worker Shortage Threatens Residents
A new report by the Campaign for College Opportunity found that while the state’s senior citizen population is projected to grow by 3.2 million by 2020, many allied health professions are experiencing an 85% shortage of students. San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
Online Diabetes Project Wins $1.2M Federal Grant
For the study, about 400 diabetic patients will input blood glucose levels, food and exercise data into a Web site that will track their health and show their potential for risks over time. Patients will be able to download health data via wireless devices. Oakland Tribune.
Long-Term Care, Home Care Services Grow More Popular
As the baby boomer population nears retirement, home-based health care services are expected to grow in popularity as an alternative to nursing homes. Baby boomers also are expressing increased interest in purchasing long-term care policies. North County Times, Los Angeles Times.