Latest California Healthline Stories
Enforcing Proof-of-Citizenship Rules Will Come Down to Counties
California has delayed fully complying with new federal rules that require people to prove that they are U.S. citizens to receive Medicaid benefits while it made changes to avoid possible service disruptions. Guidelines will go out to counties in the coming weeks. Sacramento Bee.
Military Hospitals Come Under Investigation
Operations at two facilities around Washington, D.C., will be the subject of a Pentagon investigation, and at least one Congressional committee is planning hearings on the matter. Los Angeles Times et al.
Prison Nurses Lead State Wage Increases
Officials attribute the raises for prison nurses to court cases that pushed up pay for health care providers working in prisons. Meanwhile, the federal receiver overseeing the prison health care system cut the salary and reassigned some duties of a gubernatorial appointee. Sacramento Bee.
Psychiatric Medications in Foster Kids Draw Scrutiny
A state legislator introduced a measure that would restrict the use of psychiatric drugs in foster children and require the state to monitor the use of the medications. San Francisco Chronicle.
President Highlights Ideas for Health Care Reform in Radio Talk
President Bush used his weekly radio address to restate health proposals that he initially offered in his State of the Union address: a standard tax deduction for health insurance benefits and state-based reform projects. Bloomberg/Bergen Record, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Army Officials Respond to Reports on Walter Reed
An Army official says that a series documenting problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center presented an unfair characterization of the living conditions and health care services provided at the facility. Washington Post.
Some States Expected To Run Out of SCHIP Funding This Year
Some states could face an SCHIP budgetary shortfall if Congress does not provide additional funding, and hundreds of thousands of children could lose their health insurance as a result. AP/Houston Chronicle.
Lawmakers To Seek More State Revenue from Stem Cell Products
Legislation expected to be introduced would bring in more state revenue than the stem cell agency has proposed and also would require that treatments purchased with public funds be set at federal Medicaid prices to prevent companies from overcharging. The legislation would mandate that uninsured California residents have “significant access” to treatments developed from the institute’s grant. San Jose Mercury News.