Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Care Not a Prime Focus of Gubernatorial Election
Health care ranked sixth in a poll asking likely voters what issue they want gubernatorial candidates to discuss in their campaigns, a finding that some experts say is a function of electoral demographics: Likely voters are more likely to have health insurance coverage.
Legislation on Drug Benefit Assistance Stalls
Advocates had supported a bill that would have provided subsidies for drug benefit copayments, and some groups say they will seek similar legislation in 2007.
Hospitals, Healthy Kids Have Stake in Election
A proposed tobacco tax increase would provide funds for hospital emergency departments, Healthy Kids programs to provide children’s health insurance and other health care programs, but tobacco companies have donated tens of millions of dollars to combat the initiative.
SPECIAL AUDIO REPORT: Tobacco Tax Likely Main Health Issue in Election
Health care and political players in California say that health care will play a role in the gubernatorial election but that a ballot initiative to increase the state tobacco tax to fund health care programs likely will be the major health care issue in the November election. Audio.
California Voters Again Face Parental Notification Measure
The Nov. 8 statewide ballot will include a ballot initiative that would require a parent or guardian to be notified before an unmarried minor could receive an abortion, a modified version of a measure voters rejected in the 2005 special election.
SPECIAL AUDIO REPORT: Government, Health IT Strengthen Pay-for-Performance Programs
Medicare involvement would bring “a huge amount of energy and focus to performance measurement,” according to Tom Williams, executive director of the Integrated Health Association. Audio.
San Francisco Moves Forward With Health Access Plan
San Francisco leaders say the plan to provide health care access to all city residents will withstand any potential legal changes, and health care advocates see the plan as an important step in health care reform.
Counties Debate Effects of Medicaid Citizenship Law
California county officials are voicing concerns about what to expect when they began enforcing a new federal law that requires proof-of-citizenship to obtain Medicaid benefits and are questioning whether the expected fiscal savings will materialize.
Drug Benefit Enrollment Strategies Expand
Health care advocates are working with community groups and “mining” enrollment information for programs whose membership might include Medicare beneficiaries eligible for subsidies to help offset the cost of prescription drug coverage.
SPECIAL AUDIO REPORT: Assembly To Hear Seismic Retrofit Legislation
One bill to extend the seismic safety compliance deadline would give hospitals an additional two years if they make a good faith effort to meet the deadline, while another would reevaluate which hospitals are the most at risk during an earthquake.