Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Health Costs of Young Outpace Spending on Seniors
A CMS report found that although overall health care costs for U.S. residents over age 65 are higher than those for younger people, spending on health care for children and young adults is growing more rapidly than for seniors. CongressDaily, AP/Houston Chronicle.
Suit Seeks Clinton Health Care Task Force Records
The group Judicial Watch is suing the National Archives in an attempt to obtain records on a health care task force led by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton when she was first lady. In other news, voters in Iowa say health care costs are a bigger issue than access in the presidential election. AP/Denver Post, PBS’ “Nightly Business Report.”
Medicare Drug Benefit Helps Slow Drug Sales From Canada
Several factors have suppressed sales of prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies to U.S. consumers, including threats from U.S. drug makers, rising drug costs in Canada, a weaker U.S. dollar and the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Sales drop 50% from 2005 to 2006. Philadelphia Inquirer.
Religious Beliefs Figure in Work of Health Facilities
The vast majority of patients treated at a Los Angeles clinic founded by Muslim students do not practice Islam, but the effort has nonetheless won support from Muslim groups. Meanwhile, a Northern California hospital is operating a bloodless medicine program that mostly serves Jehovah’s Witnesses. Los Angeles Times, East Bay Business Times.
Kids’ Health Talks Continue as House GOP Offers New Revisions
House Republican leaders want to tighten citizenship rules for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and require states to enroll 90% of children under 200% of the federal poverty level before higher-income children can sign up. Tax increases and income guidelines also remain sticking points in the negotiations. CQ Today et al.
Challenge to San Francisco Health Care Program Goes to Court
A restaurant group is seeking to block a provision of San Francisco’s universal health access program that would require employers that don’t offer health care benefits to contribute toward the cost of the program. Employers would pay about $28 million in 2008. AP/Sacramento Bee.
State Mulls Software for Measuring Seismic Risks of Hospitals
State officials might adopt a software program developed by the federal government to reassess the seismic risk of all hospital buildings. The program is expected to allow 60% of facilities to defer meeting state seismic guidelines until 2030. Sacramento Business Journal.
Democrats: Bush Efforts on Veterans’ Health Inadequate
In the Democrats’ weekly radio address, Sen. Patty Murray calls on President Bush to do more to address veterans’ health. Meanwhile Sen. Richard Durbin requests a U.S. Attorney’s investigation of an Illinois VA Medical Center. AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AP/Indianapolis Star.
Health Care Personnel Update for October 2007
Gov. Schwarzenegger announces appointments to health-related departments and boards; CEO of San Francisco Health Plan will resign in March.
Poll: Health Care One of Top Issues in Presidential Race
A Washington Post/ABC News poll found more than a quarter of U.S. adults rank health care among the two most important issues in the 2008 presidential election, with the issue scoring higher among Democratic voters than Republicans. A second poll found Democrats are most concerned about access, while Republicans focus on cost. Washington Post et al.