Latest California Healthline Stories
Legislation to Require Employers To Provide Health Care Coverage Introduced in San Francisco
San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano on Tuesday introduced legislation that would require businesses with 20 or more employees to provide health care coverage for workers, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Nurse Recruitment Efforts Intensify as State Faces Shortage
California hospitals are in a “hiring frenzy” as they try to comply with new nurse staffing laws that require one nurse per five patients in most wards, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Maryland Health Care Commission on Tuesday approved a plan to remove most prescription drug coverage from the required-benefits package for small companies that offer group health insurance, “with the expectation” that most employers will offer additional drug benefits, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Groups Announce $10M Education Campaign for Medicare Drug Benefit
The National Council on Aging and the Access to Benefits Coalition on Tuesday announced a $10 million education campaign to help seniors considering enrolling in the Medicare drug benefit, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Elderly Population Growth Over Next 15 Years Could Strain Health Programs
A demographic shift and increase of Californians ages 65 and older over the next 15 years could strain government-funded health programs such as Medi-Cal and In-Home Support Services, as well as state and local budgets, according to a California Budget Project report released this week, the Sacramento Bee reports.
New Rule Will Require State, Local Governments To Report Cost of Health Benefits for Future Retirees
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined how a new accounting rule will require state and local governments to report the cost of retiree health benefits that they have promised to current employees.
Kaiser Permanente Awards Grants to Safety Net Hospitals, Clinics
Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente recently announced $7.6 million in grants to community clinics and public hospitals in Northern California, the Woodland Daily Democrat reports.
Ventura County Approves Mental Health Spending Plan
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to approve a spending plan for Proposition 63 funds, the Ventura County Star reports.
Tobacco Tax Measures Could Compete on Next Year’s Ballot
Two proposals to raise the state tobacco tax to fund health programs could appear on next year’s ballots, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
New York State’s Medicaid Prescription Drug Spending Examined
The New York Times on Wednesday examined prescription drug spending under New York state’s Medicaid program, which ranks highest in the country for total prescription drug spending at $3.82 billion in 2004 and second in the country for prescription spending per Medicaid beneficiary.