Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: U.S. Hospitals Widely Unprepared To Handle Major Disaster
A PricewaterhouseCoopers report found that hospitals in the U.S. are not equipped to handle a major disaster, despite $8 billion in federal emergency-preparedness funding and years of disaster planning since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. San Diego Union-Tribune.
California Moving Toward Wait Lists for Kids’ Health Insurance
The agency that oversees California’s version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program will hold a hearing on rules to cap enrollment and start dropping kids from the program. Meanwhile, Rep. Darrell Issa argues that Democrats are using the SCHIP debate for political gain. New York Times et al.
Governor’s Health Reform Plan Faces Tough Test in Assembly
Lawmakers will review Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal to overhaul the state health care system, a day after labor unions released a report critical of his plan to lease the state lottery to help fund health care reform. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez said he hopes to find a compromise with the governor before the end of the year, but lobbyists remain doubtful. San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
L.A. County Seeks Operators for King-Harbor Hospital
Los Angeles County’s health chief said a private operator will be the best choice for reopening King-Harbor Hospital in Willowbrook but noted that the county may reassume control if a deal falls through. If so, the hospital would either be independent or part of another county facility. Los Angeles Times et al.
Physician Groups Advocate Stop To Medicare Pay Cuts
A measure before the Senate Finance Committee would avert the 10% cut in Medicare physician reimbursements scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2008, but a funding method remains uncertain. Lawmakers have assured physicians that the issue will be addressed this year. The Hill.
UC-Irvine Hospital Under Scrutiny for Firing Nurses
UC-Irvine Medical Center would not comment on why it dismissed 13 nurses, including four who have worked at the hospital for more than 20 years. The California Nurses Association said hospital management is “encouraging nurses to report on each other.” Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register.
Senators Seek To Delay Vote on Children’s Health Insurance Legislation
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was open to postponing a Senate vote on a measure to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program while supporters craft an amendment aimed at winning a veto-proof majority of support for the bill in the House. The Hill et al.
Bush Threatens To Veto Combined Appropriations Bill
The more than $700 billion package combines the Defense, Labor-HHS-Education and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bills. Bush has said he would veto the Labor-HHS-Education bill but not the other two, and he called on Democrats to pass the bills as three separate measures. The Hill et al.
Cigna To Release Details on Physician Ranking Method
Under a deal with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Cigna will list its preferred providers by cost, quality and a combination of the two measures and make its methods more transparent to members. AP/Hartford Courant et al.
Doctor Shortage Could Hinder Schwarzenegger Reform Plans
Critics of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s health care reform plan say health insurance expansions will fall short unless more physicians are available to treat Medi-Cal beneficiaries, while a columnist maintains that the health care reform debate now centers on cost. Fresno Bee, Sacramento Bee.