Latest California Healthline Stories
Law Pushes Hospitals To Offer Language Assistance
UC-Davis Medical Center is providing language-assistance services — including nurses who speak other languages — to non-English speaking patients. Sutter Health and Kaiser Permanente are offering similar services. Sacramento Bee.
Firms Could Get U.S. Tax Breaks by Offering Wellness Benefits
Physicians and business groups are among those backing the bipartisan proposal to give companies a federal tax credit for wellness services and preventive health care for employees. Supporters of the measure maintain that it will reduce health care costs. CQ Today et al.
Pennsylvania Health Care Reform Faces Resistance
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell’s health care proposal to reduce costs and expand coverage has received criticism from insurers, hospitals, physicians and small businesses. Rendell said he thinks his plan has a 50% shot at being approved. New York Times.
High-Cost Heart Therapy Highlights Cost-Efficacy Debate
Advocates for an experimental treatment for atrial fibrillation say it is more cost-effective than prescription drugs and boosts patient outcomes, but some argue that the “cure” rate touted by supporters could be exaggerated and that the risks are being minimized. New York Times.
Democrats, Bush Administration Spar Over Kids’ Insurance
Democratic lawmakers are seeking to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program when it is reauthorized, but the Bush administration is arguing that a large-scale expansion would lead to a government-run health care system. New York Times et al.
Auto Parts Maker, Union Reach Deal on Health Care Costs
Transferring retiree health care and long-term disability liabilities to two health care trust funds could save auto parts manufacturer Dana $100 million annually. The deal could indicate the ways United Auto Workers will work with companies on health care costs. New York Times et al.
Funding a Main Obstacle to Health Reform in California
Expanding health insurance coverage would be a major achievement for Gov. Schwarzenegger, although his current proposals for financing the expansion largely shift costs without asking Californians to share the burden, a columnist writes. San Francisco Chronicle.
Federal Law Could Limit States’ Health Care Reform Efforts
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act prohibits states from adopting rules on health plans offered by employers who do business in multiple states. However, lawmakers in California and other states are considering proposals to give employers a choice between providing health insurance or paying into a state fund, raising concerns about whether these plans run afoul of the federal law. Wall Street Journal.
Northern California Hospice Widens Patient Base in Sale
Hospice by the Bay's acquisition of about 30 terminally ill patients from the North Bay location of Vitas Innovative Hospice Care increases the hospice's patient base to a total of 280 in three Northern California counties. San Francisco Business Times.
West Los Angeles Veterans’ Campus To Add Housing Unit
The new housing facility is being built as VA officials weigh the possibility of commercial development of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus. Such development is being resisted by local residents, veterans and elected officials. Los Angeles Times.