Latest California Healthline Stories
Quality Improves at Hospitals in Pay-for-Performance Program
The program permits hospitals to earn bonuses if they rank among the top 20% in providing specified treatments in at least one of five areas of patient care. Participating hospitals overall experienced nearly 1,300 fewer deaths in treating heart attack patients. New York Times.
Democrats Likely To Propose FDA Regulation of Tobacco
Congress could take up proposals to let FDA regulate tobacco, require nicotine levels to be reduced, increase the excise tax on tobacco and limit Internet sales of tobacco. Wall Street Journal.
President’s Health Care Proposals Spur Reaction
Editorial boards and commentators address health care proposals that President Bush presented in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday. Akron Beacon Journal et al.
Prison Health Care Reformer Meets With Personnel Board
The court-appointed receiver for prison medical care said he is prepared to seek federal court orders to bypass state laws and obtain necessary funding to overhaul the state’s prison system. Sacramento Bee.
Poll: Californians Support Governor’s Reform Proposal
A recent poll found that Californians support Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s health care reform proposal, although support was lower and varied among ethnic groups over a component to provide coverage to children of undocumented immigrants. The CEO of Blue Cross of California’s parent company also voiced concern about a provision of the plan. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Leavitt: Bush Proposals Will Not Compromise Employer Coverage
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said he did not anticipate President Bush’s health care proposals leading employers to stop offering health insurance benefits. Some business groups and health care advocates have voiced concerns about the president’s proposals. Dow Jones et al.
Professor Challenges Stem Cell Agency Royalty Estimates
A UC-Berkeley professor estimates that returns from California’s investment in stem cell research will be hundreds of millions of dollars less than figures some proponents of the measure cited in 2004. Capitol Weekly.
Donor Registry Reaches One Million Names
The number of names included in the state’s organ and tissue donor registry has more than tripled since a program began in July 2006 to allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to link their donor information to a central registry. Sacramento Bee.
Mental Health Funds Will Be Used for Housing
Funds from California’s Mental Health Services Act will be used to provide as many as 10,000 new housing units for homeless people with mental illnesses. Revenue from the state tax approved in 2004 continues to exceed estimates. Sacramento Bee.
Senators Consider Association Health Plan Amendment
Two senators are considering introducing an amendment to permit association health plans, but senators who plan separate legislation on the issue oppose the move and have asked their colleagues to hold the amendment. CongressDaily.