Latest California Healthline Stories
San Mateo County Studies Cost of Universal Coverage
As many as 44,000 uninsured adults in the county would qualify for coverage under a county-sponsored plan, with monthly premiums projected to be almost $300 per person. San Francisco Examiner.
Wisconsin Drug Benefit Gets Funds in War Spending Bill
A Wisconsin senator included a provision in the conference committee bill that would let the SeniorCare program continue operations through 2009. The House will vote on the bill next week. CongressDaily et al.
Assembly Speaker’s Health Care Reform Bill Clears First Hurdle
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez’s plan to reform California’s health care system moved forward in the Assembly without the support of Republican committee members, a sign that there could be a bumpy road ahead for the bill. Meanwhile, Gov. Schwarzenegger remains optimistic about his own reform proposal, saying he has made his objective clear to lawmakers. Sacramento Bee et al.
IOM Calls for Boost in Services for the Disabled
A new report from the Institute of Medicine says changes are needed to federal protections for people with disabilities and rules that govern Medicare eligibility for the disabled. AP/Long Island Newsday.
Military Health Care Panel Pushes for Overhaul of System
A presidential panel cited the disability claims process as a key area of concern in its review of the quality of health care for service members and veterans. President Bush has asked the panel to work with other groups to advance reform efforts. AP/Baltimore Sun et al.
Software Used for Referrals to Clinics in San Diego
The pilot program at UC-San Diego Medical Center uses a program based on the hospital’s electronic health records system to alert hospital staff when a patient does not have a primary care provider and lives in one of nine ZIP codes near participating clinics. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Obama Positions on Health Care Differ from Rivals’
Sen. Barack Obama has not settled on a health care proposal but is expected to take a stance less radical than former Sen. John Edwards’ proposal for universal coverage but more aggressive than the plan being touted by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Wall Street Journal.
Many Hospices Not Inspected Regularly, Federal Report Finds
Hospices in California and two other states accounted for more than 40% of those overdue for inspections to participate in Medicare. These facilities were inspected, on average, every nine years, three years more than recommended. AP/Houston Chronicle.
HHS Secretary Pushes Market-Based Health Care Reform Options
Mike Leavitt said supporters of free-market strategies to overhaul the health care system should offer alternatives to measures currently before Congress that would expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and other publicly funded initiatives. CongressDaily.
Wal-Mart Describes Plans for Expansion of In-Store Clinics
Company CEO H. Lee Scott said the discount chain will partner with local hospitals to operate the clinics. He says the move will be good for Wal-Mart’s business and help improve access to health care for store customers. Bloomberg/Boston Globe et al.