Latest California Healthline Stories
Stem Cell Agency Wary of Increasing Revenue for Research Products
Zach Hall, president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, said he opposes a proposal to increase payments to the state from stem cell developments because the policy could dissuade private businesses. San Francisco Examiner, Sacramento Bee.
Hearings on Mental Health Parity Go on the Road
Rep. Patrick Kennedy said he expects the House to pass legislation that would expand requirements for mental health coverage but anticipates hurdles in the Senate. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Acquisition Furthers UnitedHealth Growth in West, Medicare
California regulators will have to sign off on UnitedHealth’s proposed acquisition of a Nevada health plan, a move that will add more than 300,000 to its numbers for Medicare and other public insurance program business. Wall Street Journal et al.
Ambulance Group Pushes for Tougher State Licensing Rules
A Sacramento Bee investigation last month uncovered widespread licensing fraud that could be traced to a lack of state oversight, as well as substance abuse problems and poor background checks. Sacramento Bee.
Santa Barbara County Mulls Kids’ Insurance Program
Two county supervisors are proposing a program that eventually could provide health insurance for 5,000 children, but some county officials are skeptical about the eventual $7 million price tag. Lompoc Record.
Proof-of-Citizenship Rule Pushes Drop in Medicaid Enrollment
Enrollment in Florida’s Medicaid program has dropped by more than 60,000 since the rule took effect, and a co-author of the requirement is working to extend it to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. California has delayed implementation of the rules. New York Times.
Minority Patients Less Likely To Seek Hospice Care
Research shows that black patients are more likely to request treatments to extend their lives than white patients, prompting researchers to question how socioeconomics and physician communication affect end-of-life care decisions. Washington Post.
Commission Kicks Off Statewide Hearings on Retiree Health Costs
California and local governments in the state are on the hook for $40 billion to $70 billion in health care and pension benefits for public workers, pushing state leaders to call for new ideas on containing the cost of benefits for public employees. Los Angeles Daily News et al.
Commission Heads Advocate Military Hospital Review
Former Sen. Bob Dole and former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala called for a complete examination of the military health care system to determine where breakdowns in care are occurring. South Florida Sun-Sentinel et al.
Cost Becomes Key Concern in Health Care Reform Debate
Consumer advocacy groups want plans to rework the California health care system to include limits on health insurance costs for individuals, hoping they could avoid problems that some see emerging in Massachusetts’ roll out of its health care reform law. But an aide to Gov. Schwarzenegger sticks to estimates that coverage in California would be available for $100 monthly. Sacramento Bee.