Latest California Healthline Stories
California Nurses Association Onboard With AFL-CIO
The alliance with the nation’s largest labor organization comes after AFL-CIO endorsed a proposal for a single-payer health care system, a cause that the California Nurses Association has long championed. Los Angeles Times et al.
Judge Says Medicare Billing Suit Lacks Legal Standing
The ruling by a federal judge in Fresno reiterated similar rulings in suits filed against hospitals by consumer advocate Erin Brockovich. Fresno Bee.
New Kaiser Facilities Concern Local Providers
Kaiser is undergoing a multi-year expansion and rebuilding campaign that could translate to the HMO canceling contracts with local providers as new facilities open. All the while, Kaiser’s Northern California division is being hit by problems recruiting physicians. East Bay Business Times, San Francisco Business Times.
Texas Fights To Keep Health Care Costs Under Wraps
California officials are at work to comply with a rule that requires public employers to disclose retiree health care and pension costs, but Texas lawmakers are pushing bills to nullify the requirement in their state. New York Times.
Nursing Home Payment Program Snagged in Roll Out
A state audit found that a state program to increase funding for nursing homes has had problems getting off the ground and made more than $3 million in duplicate payments. Sacramento Business Journal.
Fitness Emerges as Strategy To Curb Health Care Costs
California legislators could take up a bill that would offer tax credits to businesses that offer employee-wellness programs, a strategy that is growing in popularity among employers and health insurers. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
San Francisco Regrouping Care for People With HIV
A local AIDS worker said the integration presents an opportunity for the city to devise a better system of delivering care to HIV patients who have other chronic medical problems. San Francisco Chronicle.
Elder Care Will Kick Up Health Costs by 25% in Coming Years
The cost of health care for older adults is far higher than younger people’s medical care, especially at a time when 80% of older people have at least one chronic condition that could hasten their deaths, a new study finds. Reuters, Chicago Sun-Times.
Privacy, Cost Concerns Shutter Data Exchange Program
The Santa Barbara County Care Data Exchange generally solved technological questions of sharing information and retaining local control of health care data, but stakeholders remained unconvinced that the organization was necessary. Government Health IT.
Hard Times Ahead for State Kids’ Insurance Programs
As many as 35 states are projected to hit budget shortfalls for their incarnations of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program by 2012 if federal funding isn’t increased, up from 14 states this year. About 1.5 million kids could lose coverage. USA Today.