Latest California Healthline Stories
Bills To Expand Veterans’ Health Care Move Forward
The House has passed six separate bills to expand health care services for veterans. The bills would expand no-cost health care for returning troops, establish traumatic brain injury research centers and create a grant program for state veterans’ outreach programs. CQ Today et al.
California Grants Provide Funds for Nurse Training
Five Los Angeles area hospitals will get funds to train registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses, while a Fresno medical group’s share of the grant award will go to train ancillary medical staff. Office of the Governor.
Study: Hospital Volume Tied to Care for Premature Babies
Consolidating neonatal intensive care units in the same regions to form larger units with greater volume could prevent 21% of deaths among premature infants. However, smaller community hospitals are likely to resist closing their NICUs. AP/Chicago Tribune et al.
Lack of Graduates Could Limit Health Care Work Force
A study warns that the state needs to increase the number of California residents obtaining college degrees and staying instate to work to stave off work force shortages in health care and other skilled professions. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Experts Ponder Effect of Coverage Expansion on Supply of Doctors
San Mateo County’s plan to cover the uninsured is drawing concern from some stakeholders who warn that dramatically expanding coverage could exacerbate existing problems that county residents have getting in to see primary care doctors. San Francisco Examiner.
Hospital Mortality Rates To Go Online Beginning in June
Federal officials will make the information available as part of an effort to push health care transparency and make it easier for consumers to make health care decisions. However, some physician groups are concerned that the data will appear out of context. USA Today.
Insurers Protest Recommendation for Kaiser Trauma Center
Kaiser Permanente won a recommendation from Sacramento County officials to operate the area’s fourth trauma center. HealthNet and Blue Shield of California warn of higher health care costs if Kaiser wins the bid over another local hospital. Sacramento Bee.
Medicare Officials Accepting Input on Reimbursements
Federal administrators for Medicare are accepting public comments on proposals that would end payments to hospitals for treating 13 preventable conditions. Indianapolis Star.
California Republicans Back Separate Health Reform Plan
State Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman endorses a health care proposal by Senate Republican lawmakers as an alternative to health care reform proposals being pushed by Democratic legislative leaders and Gov. Schwarzenegger. Orange County Register.
Restrictions Tightened in Assisted Suicide Measure
Assembly Democrats hope new safeguards in a physician-assisted bill will convince naysayers to get behind the measure. The Assembly last year approved a version of the bill, but it didn’t make it to the full Senate for consideration. KPBS’ “KPBS News.”