Latest California Healthline Stories
Edwards Set To Detail His Health Care Reform Proposal
His plan aims to reduce drug prices by eliminating long-term patents for breakthrough drugs and providing funding to aid production of those drugs. The presidential candidate also is expected to propose requiring health plans to spend 85% of premiums on direct patient care. AP/Long Island Newsday.
Panel Mulls Expansion of Mental Health Programs at Schools
A proposal before a state mental health panel would offer grants for schools to expand counseling and awareness programs aimed at preventing student suicides. The four-year, $60 million initiative would include peer support and training programs in K-12 and higher education institutions. Sacramento Bee.
Doctors Survey Shows Strong Support for Health Care Reform
A report from the California Medical Association finds that doctors in the state are frustrated with the administrative demands of managed care, which they believe cut into time with their patients. Eighty percent of surveyed physicians said they are unable to spend as much time with patients as necessary to provide quality care. Ventura County Star.
San Mateo County Weighs Plan for Universal Coverage
The county’s health care coverage program would focus on preventive and primary care in an effort to reduce emergency department visits. Individuals participating in the program must contribute a monthly fee that is based on income. Oakland Tribune.
Lawmakers Reschedule Mark Up of Drug User Fee Bill
A House subcommittee’s mark up of draft legislation to reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act has been postponed from June 13 to June 19, with a full committee mark up planned for June 21. The later date aims to give lawmakers more time to work out their differences. CongressDaily, CQ Today.
California Must Boost Funds for Family Planning Clinics
An editorial calls on California legislators to increase Medi-Cal reimbursements to family planning clinics or face long-term consequences of “shortchanging” such clinics, which provide reproductive health care services to one million women in California. Sacramento Bee.
States Could Do More To Boost Access to Care, Report Finds
Results of a new Commonwealth Fund study that rated states based on cost, health insurance coverage and care quality support past studies that indicate that there is no link between the amount states spend on health care and the quality of care residents receive. USA Today et al.
U.S. Senate Committee Set To Mark Up Kids’ Health Insurance Bill
Senators are considering increasing the tobacco tax and shifting some funds from Medicare to help cover the cost of expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, but additional funds would be needed to cover the full cost of the proposal. CongressDaily.
Capitol Rally, Film Screenings Champion Single-Payer Coverage
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore told California lawmakers that he thinks they will “find the right solution” on health care reform and set an example for other health care overhaul efforts nationwide. The California Nurses Association organized Moore’s appearances in Sacramento in hopes of bolstering its case for a single-payer system. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
State Investigation of Blue Cross Payout Under Way
California officials want to know why Blue Cross of California paid a large dividend to its parent company at a time when premiums are on the rise. Blue Cross said the payment is appropriate. KPBS’ “KPBS News.”