Latest California Healthline Stories
Edwards’ Health Plan Calls for Universal Coverage by 2012
Sen. John Edwards offered a health care proposal that calls for expanding eligibility to Medicaid and SCHIP, while requiring employers to provide health benefits and allowing businesses to form purchasing pools for health insurance. Washington Post et al.
San Francisco Sick Leave Law Takes Effect; First in U.S.
Workers will accrue paid sick leave based on the number of hours worked, with the maximum being determined by the number of employees at the firm. Similar measures are under consideration in the U.S. Senate and at least two other states. San Francisco Chronicle.
Array of Health Reforms on the Table This Year
At least seven plans to overhaul health care have been pitched by presidential candidates, lawmakers and advocacy groups at the state and national level, increasing the odds that the White House and Congress will look to health care as an area for collaboration. Wall Street Journal.
Broad Alliance Will Champion Health Reform in California
A diverse group of stakeholders in the California health care system will stand up to overhaul the health care system in the state and hopes to stave off any organized efforts to stymie reform efforts. The coalition includes physicians, insurers, a hospital chain and organized labor. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Health Care Will Be Central Issue in Presidential Race
Columnist Peter Brown maintains that party activists will push candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination to offer universal health care proposals, a challenge that could boost or derail some campaigns. Sacramento Bee.
Some Health Programs Take Hit in President’s Budget
President Bush’s spending proposal calls for billions of dollars of savings in Medicare and Medicaid, while proposing a funding increase for state children’s health insurance programs. Critics say the plan would limit health care access for seniors and children. USA Today et al.
L.A. County Hospitals Could Lose $200M Under Federal Plan
A federal proposal would reduce funding by $3.8 billion nationwide, including cuts to Los Angeles County public hospitals that county officials say could jeopardize medical services for 10 million residents. Los Angeles Daily News.
Drug Firms Offer Limited Help to Medicare Enrollees
Many pharmaceutical companies ended programs to provide medications to needy people after the Medicare prescription drug benefit began because of concerns that the programs could violate federal anti-kickback laws. USA Today.
Bush Talks Health Care, Domestic Policy With Dems
President Bush asked Democratic members of Congress to act on efforts to ensure the long-term financial stability of Medicare and Social Security and work with Republican legislators to pass legislation on health care and other domestic issues. Washington Post et al.
President’s Budget Plan Seeks Savings in Medicare, Medicaid
More higher-income Medicare beneficiaries would face higher premiums under President Bush’s budget proposal, which includes more than $100 billion in savings from Medicare and Medicaid over five years. New York Times et al.