EVENTS

JUL

Conference on EHR Adoption

Sacramento

JUL

Second Meeting on Statewide Mental Health Services

Sacramento

JUL

Conference on EHR Adoption

Anaheim

View All Events

FROM THE FOUNDATION

The Social Life of Health Information

A new Pew Internet/CHCF national survey finds the Internet has joined doctors and family members as one of the top three ways people search for answer to their health care questions.

Mapping Physician Supply in California

This report presents the first comprehensive study of the Medical Board of California survey data on practicing physicians in the state. It finds fewer M.D.s than previously estimated and a wide variation in supply among counties.

Restructuring Options for Community Clinics

Concerned about their long-term survival, some California community clinics are considering partnerships or mergers. This issue brief offers a roadmap for restructuring.

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California Healthline will not publish Friday, July 3.
Publication will resume Monday, July 6.

California To Begin Issuing IOUs; Gov. Declares Fiscal Emergency

State Controller John Chiang is expected to begin issuing $53.3 million in IOUs today after lawmakers missed a deadline to pass a budget plan by the end of the fiscal year. Health services, including Medi-Cal-funded facilities, could receive IOUs. Meanwhile, Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency and directed lawmakers to focus exclusively on the budget. Los Angeles Times et al.

President Pushes for Health Care Reform in Town Hall Meeting

President Obama called on the public to pressure lawmakers to approve health care reform legislation, asserting that health care costs will continue to rise and have a bigger effect on Americans' finances if action is not taken soon. Republicans said Obama's proposals would hurt the economy. Washington Post et al.

New CDC Data Show Drop in Private Health Insurance Coverage

Based on interviews, CDC estimates that the percentage of non-elderly Americans with private health insurance coverage hit a 50-year low in 2008. States in the south and west had the largest percentages of uninsured residents, according to CDC. AP/USA Today.

Kennedy, Dodd Roll Out New Cost Estimates on Reworked Reform Plan

Sens. Edward Kennedy and Christopher Dodd told members of the Senate HELP Committee that their revised proposal would cost $600 billion over 10 years and cover 97% of Americans. Bloggers pointed out that the estimate does not take into account the cost of a proposed Medicaid expansion. AP/Chicago Tribune et al.

Bill To Forestall Closure of San Leandro ED Fails in Committee Vote

On Tuesday, the Assembly Health Committee fell one vote short of passing SB 196, which would have required more notice and public hearings before an emergency department can close. Assembly member Mary Hayashi, the bill's co-author, refrained from voting on the measure. Oakland Tribune.

Bill Would Amend Medicare Payment Inequities Among California Counties Classified as Rural

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Larry deGhetaldi of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Elizabeth McNeil of the California Medical Association and Tom Mentzer, spokesperson for Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), discussed the proposal with California Healthline.

Running Time: 5:09

AROUND CALIFORNIA

Medi-Cal Halts Payments for Dentistry, Other Services

CalRHIO Names Coye as CEO, President

Proposal Would Create New Health Clinic in Coastside

ACROSS THE NATION

CMS Offers Plan To Help Fix Medicare Physician Payments

Many U.S. Residents Support Public Option, Few Would Use

ROAD TO REFORM

California Offers Examples of Public Plans in House Hearings

Officials for two different types of Medi-Cal managed care plans appeared before a House committee last week in support of including a public plan in health care reform legislation, while a representative of the Pacific Business Group on Health raised businesses' concerns about such a plan.

FEATURES

Public Opinion, Research Show Support for Health Care Reform

by George Lauer, California Healthline Features Editor

A slew of public interest polls, research papers and petitions point to overwhelming agreement that the country's health system needs an overhaul. The flurry of opinion and research arrives as Congress begins deliberation on competing reform bills.