Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospital News Roundup for July 20
Sutter Health restates commitment to maintain operations at San Francisco facility; Sharp HealthCare reaches contract agreement with nurses
U.S. Senate Panel Approves Kids’ Health Insurance Measure
All 11 Democrats on the committee and six of the committee's 10 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, which would reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program and increase funding for the program by $35 billion over five years. President Bush said he plans to veto the bill. Los Angeles Times et al.
Federal Bill Seeks To Limit Health Insurance Denials
The proposed legislation would shorten the waiting period for individual policyholders with pre-existing conditions to receive full coverage from an insurer. A California representative is co-sponsoring the bill. Hartford Courant.
Spending Bill for U.S. Health Department Passed Out of House
The vote was short of the two-thirds needed to override President Bush's expected veto of the appropriations bill. The measure does not include an amendment that would have translated to funding cuts for Bay Area HIV/AIDS programs. AP/Arizona Daily Star et al.
State Public Health Officials To Examine Heat-Related Deaths
The Department of Public Health says the investigation was planned before the Associated Press released a report indicating that the death toll from a July 2006 heat wave in California might have been three times higher than state officials reported. AP/San Diego Union-Tribune.
UC Officials Weigh Ban on Tobacco-Funded Research
The UC Board of Regents was expected to vote on banning tobacco-funded research but instead will negotiate a compromise with university officials that may give departments the option of accepting the funds or require faculty panels to ensure that the research is used responsibly. San Francisco Chronicle.
Veterans’ Disability Benefits Vary Widely by State, Study Finds
The study found that average annual disability payments varied from $7,556 in Ohio to $12,395 in New Mexico. One-third of disparities in disability payments are attributed to poor agency standards and inadequate training, according to the study. AP/Arizona Daily Star.