Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Reform Debate Heats Up During August Recess
As protesters continue to advocate against Democrats’ health reform proposals at town-hall meetings nationwide, lawmakers are using the August recess to dispel misinformation circulating about their health reform plans and introduce reform-related legislation.
California Nursing Board Faces Long Road Ahead for Streamlining Investigation Process
Stacie Berumen of the nursing panel, the University of San Diego’s Julie D’Angelo Fellmeth, Kathy Sackman of UNAC/UHCP and Daryl Walker of the Department of Consumer Affairs discussed the board with California Healthline.
Health Care Cuts Deeper Than They Appear in California
California’s Health and Human Services funding was cut by nearly $4 billion in a prolonged budget process that still may not be complete. If losses in federal matching funds are considered, the overall monetary impact could be twice that, according to some estimates.
Key Players Push for More Information, Tout Agendas in Reform Debate
Congress is winding down official action on health care reform for the summer. Sen. Jay Rockefeller is continuing to ask questions about health care cooperatives, while White House budget chief Peter Orszag is touting health economists’ endorsement of a plan for a new Medicare rate-setting commission.
Collaborative Joins Race To Oversee California’s Health IT Evolution
Two entries have emerged in a race that has yet to be officially declared or described but is widely anticipated. The winner could become California’s lead organization administering billions of dollars in stimulus funds for health IT.
Recent Calif. Budget Cuts Could Force Healthy Families To Disenroll Children From Program
Sen. Denise Ducheny, Assembly member Dave Jones, Elia Gallardo of the California Primary Care Association, First 5 spokesperson Bill Madison and Ginny Puddefoot of MRMIB discussed the cuts with California Healthline.
State Budget Challenges Loom Over Proposals To Expand CHIP, Medicaid
Members of Congress are debating proposals to expand eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but governors are harboring concerns about how much the expansions would cost states. Meanwhile, a House panel held a hearing on rescissions, an issue that isn’t foreign to veteran observers of California health care policymaking.
What Could National Health Care Reform Mean for California?
Mitchell Katz of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and Erica Murray of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems weigh in on the implications of health care reform efforts in Washington, D.C.
States Keep Close Eye on Medicaid Expansion in Reform Debate
This week, legislative leaders in California signed on to a budget agreement that would cut state spending on Medicaid by $1.3 billion just as members of the House are debating a plan to expand eligibility for the program. The bill calls for the federal government to cover the cost of the expansion.
Federal Officials Urge Health Departments To Remain Focused on Controlling H1N1 Influenza
Susan Hogeland of the California Academy of Family Physicians, Al Lundeen of the state public health department, CDC’s Von Roebuck and Eric Weiss of Stanford Medical Center discussed the virus with California Healthline.