Latest California Healthline Stories
Public Financing Measure Raises Health Care Issues
Provisions of a ballot measure to create a publicly financed campaign system in California would not apply to many trial attorney firms. As a result, more than half of the campaign funds in opposition to the measure have been donated by insurers, which typically oppose trial attorneys on legislative issues. Los Angeles Times.
CMS Deputy Administrator Leslie Norwalk will serve as acting agency administrator as of Oct. 15, when the current administrator plans to resign. AP/Centre Daily Times et al.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Appointments
Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata recently named appointments to the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission. Perata release.
Class-Action Status Granted in ‘Light’ Cigarettes Suit
The lawsuit alleges that tobacco companies misled consumers for more than 30 years with claims that light cigarettes had fewer health risks than regular cigarettes. AP/Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
Panel Recommends Access to Affordable Health Care
The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group recommended prioritization of efforts to improve health care quality and efficiency and said that end-of-life care should be restructured to offer increased access and more choices. New York Times et al.
Governor Signs Health Care Bills
Gov. Schwarzenegger enacted laws dealing with insurers’ investments in low-income communities and oral health exams. Los Angeles Times, Office of the Governor.
Reimportation Provision Included in Appropriations Bill
Negotiators rejected a proposal that would have required patients to obtain permission slips from their physicians to purchase prescription drugs from Canada. CongressDaily.
Effect of Higher Tobacco Tax Unclear
Opponents of a proposed tobacco tax increase say it is a “power grab by hospitals,” but local officials in the San Joaquin Valley support Proposition 86, saying that it would provide health insurance to as many as 18,000 local children. San Francisco Chronicle, Fresno Bee.
Lawmakers Renew Calls for Single Food Safety Agency
Currently, USDA oversees the safety of meat, poultry and eggs, and FDA oversees the safety of most other foods. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the Department of Treasury have smaller roles in oversight of food safety. USA Today et al.
Doctors asked the state to create an independent arbitration system to address disputes between physicians and insurers over emergency department charges after Gov. Schwarzenegger called for a ban on so-called “balance billing.” San Diego Union-Tribune.