Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 31, 2015
Service Employees International Union Local 1021 held a rally at Highland Hospital to protest the facility’s decision to end its substance use disorder program. The California Nurses Association has won a vote to represent 1,200 nurses at Kaiser Permanente’s flagship Los Angeles Medical Center.
DOD Selects Cerner Team for Massive EHR Contract
Cerner, Leidos and Accenture Federal have nabbed a much-anticipated contract to modernize the Department of Defense’s electronic health record system. The contract value could total $9 billion over 10 years, and officials expect the EHR system to be implemented over six to seven years. FierceEMR, Modern Healthcare.
House Approves Legislation To Make it Easier for VA To Fire, Demote Underperforming Employees
This week, the House voted 256-170 to approve legislation that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to fire or demote employees for underperformance. The bill comes after the department last year was embroiled in a scandal over wait times for veterans to access care and a subsequent cover-up. The Hill‘s “Floor Action,” Washington Times.
Eyes on ACA as Medicare, Medicaid Celebrate 50-Year Anniversary
Some observers say the success of Medicare and Medicaid could preview what is to come for the Affordable Care Act. Data show the programs have helped to reduce the country’s rate of uninsured seniors from 48% in 1962 to less than 2% now. Combined, the programs now cover one-third of U.S. residents. Los Angeles Times, New York Times.
Senate OKs Bill To Notify Medicare Beneficiaries of Observation Care
The Senate has passed a bill that would require hospitals to notify Medicare beneficiaries of their outpatient status when receiving observation care because they are not ill enough to be admitted to the hospital. The bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Lloyd Dogget, says President Obama is expected to sign the legislation. Kaiser Health News, McKnight’s.
Workers’ Compensation Costs on the Rise Despite 2012 Reforms
A new Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau report finds that California’s workers’ compensation costs continue to increase despite reforms passed three years ago by the state Legislature that aimed to reduce medical costs through better treatment oversight. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Proposal for Pension Benefit Changes Would Create ‘Uncertainty’
Legislative analyst Mac Taylor says a plan to require voter approval for changes to public pension benefits would result in “uncertainty.” Meanwhile, California’s public pension programs saw assets grow by more than $100 billion in fiscal year 2013-2014. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker,” Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Calif. Sued Over Care Delays for Mentally Ill, Disabled Defendants
A lawsuit against the California departments of State Hospitals and Developmental Services alleges that the state failed to transfer defendants with mental health issues or disabilities who were deemed incompetent to stand trial to state hospitals in a timely manner. The suit was filed yesterday by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of four families. Reuters et al.
L.A. Court Blocks Antiabortion-Rights Group From Releasing New Videos
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Superior Court issued a temporary restraining order barring the antiabortion-rights group Center for Medical Progress from releasing any videos of three leaders of a California-based company discussing the sale of aborted fetuses for research. The officials from StemExpress — a company that provides human tissue, blood and other specimens to researchers –already have been the subject of three publicly released videos in which they discussed the company’s links to Planned Parenthood. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Sacramento State’s Tobacco Ban on Hold
Sacramento State’s tobacco ban, which would have included smoking, chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes, is on hold while the California State University chancellor considers a systemwide policy on tobacco use, according to Luis Kischmischian, communications and marketing specialist with the Division of Student Affairs at Sacramento State. Instead, the university this fall will launch an informational campaign on tobacco. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”