Latest California Healthline Stories
Lawmakers Propose Tax Credit Plan to Fund Universal Coverage
In an “unlikely” pairing, House Ways and Means health subcommittee members Jim McCrery (R-La.) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) have joined forces on a plan that would eliminate the current employer-based health insurance system and replace it with a system that relied on tax credits to provide universal health coverage.
Legislator Proposes Bill to Expand Nurse Training Programs
To alleviate the “growing” nursing shortage in California, state Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) yesterday introduced a bill (SB 317) that would expand nurse training programs operated by the California State University and California Community Colleges systems, the Sacramento Bee reports.
El Dorado County Supervisors Vote to Spend Tobacco Money on Health Care
Bowing to the “concerns of health care professionals and community volunteers,” the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors yesterday voted unaminously to earmark a portion of the county’s share of the national tobacco settlement for health care and antitobacco initiatives by 2006, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Researchers Launch Binational Effort to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Along U.S.-Mexico Border
A “groundbreaking binational study” along the U.S.-Mexico border, where the rates of death and illness from diabetes are two to three times higher than in any other place in both countries, will investigate the “prevalence” of the disease and ways to “create treatment and prevention programs,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Supreme Court Upholds EPA’s Authority on Clean Air Act
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the way the federal government sets air-quality standards under the Clean Air Act, unanimously rejecting arguments from industry groups that the EPA should consider cost when implementing such standards, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Breaux, Collins Seeking Patients’ Rights Compromise
Addressing an American Association of Health Plans conference yesterday, Sens. John Breaux (D-La.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that they “are participating in a working group” that aims to “craft” a compromise patients’ bill of rights, CongressDaily reports.
Davis Leaves Abortion Issue Off Democratic Governors’ Agenda
Gov. Gray Davis (D), who made abortion rights a “cornerstone” of his 1998 election campaign, on Monday failed to mention the subject at the annual Democratic Governors Association Conference, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Insurers, Dot-Coms Compete to Provide Web-Based Consumer Health Information
Insurers are “leading the race” to attract consumers to their Web sites for health information, Hospitals & Health Networks reports.
Bush Unveils Budget, Tax Cut Proposals to Congress
Addressing Congress last night, President Bush unveiled his $1.9 trillion budget package — which includes a 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax cut — and promised to “continue or bolster government programs” that Americans “care about,” such as Medicare, the Washington Post reports.
Governors Endorse Medicaid Reform Plan
The National Governors’ Association yesterday formally endorsed a proposal that would “ease” federal regulation of Medicaid administration and allow states to expand Medicaid coverage by offering fewer benefits to new enrollees.