Viewpoints: Motivation Behind State-Regulated Health Pricing Understandable, But Bill Would Be Dangerous
A selection of opinions on health care developments from around the state.
Sacramento Bee:
Health Price Regulations Are Misguided
A case in point is Assembly Bill 3087, which would regulate the prices that hospitals, physicians and prescription drug makers charge commercial insurers. In turn, insurers would be told how much they could charge policyholders. ...But imposing uniform payment rates is dangerous and misguided. (Erin Trish and Dana Goldman, 5/2)
San Jose Mercury News:
Why State Should Fund Disabled Housing Program
As director of Santa Clara County’s Social Services Agency, I’ve seen first-hand the commitment of our social workers in Adult Protective Services (APS) to intervene and protect seniors and adults with disabilities from abuse and neglect. However, when the California Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection act was passed in 1982, the county and state could not have envisioned the current shortage of affordable housing coupled with the increasing aging population, or the impacts it would have on these vulnerable populations. (Robert Menicocci, 5/2)
Sacramento Bee:
California Insurance Commissioner: Poizner With An Asterisk
Steve Poizner was California’s insurance commissioner from 2007 to 2011, and he was a very good one. In a critical statewide job that balances consumer protection against the solvency of insurers, he stood up to big health and auto insurance companies that tried to gouge policyholders while making sure the industry stayed in the state and made enough profit to pay its claims. (4/29)
Los Angeles Times:
Defending California's Right To Clean Air
World leaders may negotiate their climate change accords in foreign capitals, but the efforts to stem global warming may succeed or fail based on what happens in United States courtrooms, where the state of California is leading the charge to block the Trump administration's anti-environment, anti-science agenda. On Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown and state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra announced that they have filed the state's 10th, and potentially most consequential, lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Joined by 16 other states and the District of Columbia, California is trying to preserve a planned increase in vehicle fuel-economy standards, which were designed to make passenger cars more fuel efficient and less polluting. (5/2)
Sacramento Bee:
CARB Should Extend Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Jaxin Woodward of Vacaville loves running track and field and cross country, but pollution from cars and trucks can trigger vicious asthma attacks, making it challenging for her to compete. She is one of millions of Californians who benefit every day from the state’s leading policies to clean up vehicles and fuels, including the low carbon fuel standard. On Friday, the California Air Resources Board will consider a proposal to strengthen and extend the standard beyond its current 2020 deadline to 2030. This policy is often overlooked but is critically important in reducing pollution and slowing climate change. (Will Barrett, 4/26)
Los Angeles Times:
Trumpcare Continues To Suck Healthcare Coverage From Americans
The Commonwealth Fund reported Tuesday that the administration's concerted attack on the ACA has driven the uninsured rate among working-age people (those aged 19 to 64) to 15.5%, up from 12.7% in 2016. That translates into lost coverage for 4 million Americans. (Michael Hiltzik, 5/1)
Sacramento Bee:
Amazon And Facebook Have Fake Parental Consent
Like every father, I think my daughter is the most amazing child in the world. Brilliant, funny and insightful, she will surpass me in every way.But she is still a child, my responsibility. She doesn’t go to the mall or to a sleepover without permission from me or her mom. (Ed Howard, 4/27)