Latest California Healthline Stories
Giuliani Health Care Plan Focuses on Individual Coverage
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is touting expanded tax benefits to encourage people to buy health insurance but says he would not make health care coverage mandatory as president. Giuliani said more details would be released this summer. Wall Street Journal.
San Francisco Budget Talks Center on Health Care Funds
Supervisor Chris Daly seeks to cut $37 million in new programs from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal and replace it with $37 million for his own proposals, including funding for AIDS services and psychiatric beds. San Francisco Chronicle.
HIV Prevention in Adult Film Industry Under Debate
HIV advocacy groups are calling for tougher safety standards for the adult film industry in order to prevent another HIV outbreak similar to 2004, but state lawmakers and county officials have abstained from supporting a legislative proposal. MediaNews/Oakland Tribune.
Lawmakers To Act on Bill To Reauthorize Kids’ Insurance
Expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program could be funded by increasing the federal tobacco tax or reducing payments to Medicare Advantage plans. The Senate next week could mark up legislation to reauthorize the program. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Divided Assembly Set To Vote on Assisted Suicide Legislation
Despite revisions that limited eligibility for physician-assisted suicide under a bill that would legalize the practice in California, Assembly Democrats harbor mixed opinions on the measure. The Assembly Republican leader says it will get no votes from members of his party. San Jose Mercury News et al.
Stakeholders Show Confidence in Health Care Reform Plans
Policymakers squared off over proposals by Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Schwarzenegger ahead of a Friday deadline for moving bills out of their house of origin. Meanwhile, an editorial raises questions about the governor’s plan. Capital Public Radio’s “Insight,” San Diego Union-Tribune.
Study Questions Incentive Programs’ Influence on Care
CMS has not commented on the findings of the study, which looked at a Medicare pilot program. Some say the results suggest that the industry should not rush into pay-for-performance programs. Wall Street Journal, HealthDay/Washington Post.
Stem Cell Agency Earmarks $50.5 Million for Research Facilities
The grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will help pay for the construction of embryonic stem cell research labs at facilities statewide and help support training programs at six of the facilities. The move is intended to provide space for researchers to work with human embryonic stem cells ineligible for federal funding. San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
San Francisco Officials Clarify Paid Sick Leave Law
San Francisco in February began requiring all businesses to offer paid sick leave to their workers, but details of the law were unclear. As a result, city officials spent the past few months clarifying the guidelines of the law. San Francisco Chronicle.
Medicaid Spending To Jump Almost 6% in 2008, Survey Predicts
The survey projects that Medicaid will account for 22% of state spending and will continue to constrain state budgets, despite efforts during the past five years to limit Medicaid spending. State expenditures for the program increased by 6.6% in fiscal year 2007. CQ HealthBeat, CongressDaily.