Latest California Healthline Stories
National Association of Insurance Commissioners Repudiates Annual Reunderwriting
A committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners yesterday “repudiated” the practice of annually reunderwriting individual health insurance policies in response to concerns that “states would be unprepared to protect consumers from being singled out for rate increases based on their health,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
House Panel Holds Second Hearing on Allowing Insurers To Choose Federal Rather Than State Regulation
A House Financial Services subcommittee yesterday held the second in a three-part series of hearings exploring whether insurance companies should have the option to be regulated by the federal government instead of states, the Washington Post reports.
Managed Care Contracts Helped Drive Down Hospital Profits, Study Finds
Managed care contracts helped drive down hospital profits during the 1990s, particularly among teaching hospitals, according to a new study, the Boston Herald reports.
Budget Conference Committee Approves Funds to Expand Healthy Families Coverage to Adults
The conference committee appointed to resolve differences between state budget proposals approved last month by the Assembly and Senate yesterday “split along party lines” to approve $50 million for a proposed expansion of Healthy Families to parents of eligible children, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Increased Payments for Medicare+Choice Unlikely to ‘Rescue’ Program
A “major infusion of dollars” into Medicare+Choice is unlikely to “rescue” the program from its financial difficulties, according to Wall Street and health policy analysts attending a conference sponsored by the Center for Studying Health System Change.
Senate Approves Legislation to Provide Paid Family Leave for Employees
The Senate yesterday voted 21-15 to pass a bill (SB 1661) that would provide employees with disability pay for up to 12 weeks to allow them to care for a family member with an illness or to spend time with a newborn, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Kern County Health Fair Provides Information, Services for Hispanic Children
Kern County on Sunday held the 2002 Hispanic Health Fair, offering health information, free immunizations for children and free cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, the Bakersfield Californian reports.
Supreme Court Rules Workers With Health Risks Can Be Denied Dangerous Jobs
The Supreme Court ruled unaminously yesterday that the Americans with Disabilities Act does not require employers to hire workers “whose mental or physical handicap might endanger their own health or safety on the job.”
Los Angeles Times Examines Use of Peer Pressure to Reduce Youth Smoking Rates
The Los Angeles Times on Sunday examined how students across the state are organizing groups and using peer pressure to convince fellow classmates not to smoke.
Lieberman Introduces Bill to Require Bush Administration to Develop National Broadband Plan
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) last Wednesday introduced a bill (S 2582) that would require the Bush administration to develop a plan for nationwide broadband deployment, including funds for research and development of Internet-based health care applications.