Latest California Healthline Stories
Dutch Health Care System Could Be Model for U.S.
Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund, writes in an opinion piece that the Netherlands’ health care reform effort is “worth watching” as the U.S. debates changes to its own system. Wall Street Journal.
Clinton To Unveil Details of Universal Health Insurance Proposal
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to announce her health care proposal on Monday at an Iowa hospital. The plan is expected to require all U.S. residents to obtain health insurance, with subsidies for low-income individuals. Long Island Newsday et al.
Effects of New Mental Health Funding Limited
Mental health advocates argue that Proposition 63 does not improve counties’ core mental health care services because it only allows counties to use the funding on new, innovative programs. Los Angeles Times.
California Considers Training Nursing Students in Mexico
While the state works to expand nursing programs in California, state officials are putting together a plan to send bilingual students to nursing programs in Mexico. The move would make California the first state to outsource nurse training to another country. San Diego Union-Tribune.
San Francisco Expands Health Access Program
Starting on Monday, uninsured San Francisco residents can enroll in the city’s landmark universal health care access program at 22 clinics throughout San Francisco. A decision in a lawsuit challenging a key funding provision of the program is expected by November. San Francisco Examiner, APM’s “Marketplace Morning Report.”
State Leaders Criticize New Medicaid Prescription Rules
State Medicaid directors say a rule that will require pharmacists to reject Medicaid paper prescriptions not written on special paper could hinder access to medications and force pharmacies to return reimbursements. USA Today, CongressDaily.
Hospitals Could Win Reversal of Rejected Medicare Claims
A ruling by administrative law judges will help hospitals receive past Medicare claims that were rejected by PRG-Shultz International, but the auditor still will be able to keep its share of the claims if the judges’ ruling is sustained through two levels of review. Sacramento Bee.
Special Session Last Hope for Health Reform in California for 2007
Political watchers expect Democratic legislative leaders and Gov. Schwarzenegger to agree to a health care overhaul plan without passing a funding mechanism. Instead, they will ask voters to OK the financing component in a ballot initiative next year. MediaNews/Contra Costa Times et al.
Sacramento County Weighs Undocumented Patient Care
A proposal by a Sacramento County supervisor would only allow county clinics to treat undocumented immigrants for contagious diseases, leaving hospitals to shoulder the burden of treating other ailments. The plan was scrapped due to lack of support. Sacramento Bee, CPR’s “KXJZ News.”
Health Care Reform News From Around the Nation: September 17
Maine selects Harvard Pilgrim Health Care as the new insurer for its DirigoChoice program, while Alaska considers universal coverage and Massachusetts safety net hospitals raise concern that reimbursements will decrease under the state’s health insurance law.