Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Cal. Lawmakers Likely To Pass Replacement Tax On Health Care Plans
The San Jose Mercury News: California Legislature Poised To Pass Replacement Tax On Health Care Plans
After months of uncertainty, the Legislature appears poised to approve a tax on health care plans that would generate $1.27 billion annually and could substantially boost funding for developmentally disabled Californians for the first time in more than a decade. (Calefati and Seipel, 2/14)
The Richmond Times-Dispatch: House Passes Bills To Revamp Or Dismantle COPN System
The House of Delegates on Monday backed two bills to revamp or dismantle the certificate of public need program, the state’s lengthy application and approval process for big-ticket health care services. (Cain, 2/15)
The Des Moines Register: Nursing-Home Staff Training On Dementia Debated
Nursing-home representatives and advocates for people with Alzheimer’s disease squared off Monday over whether the state should require care-facility employees to show they understand how to serve people with dementia. About 20 lobbyists surrounded three legislators giving an initial review to a bill on the matter. House Study Bill 566 would require training about dementia for new employees and would require that they demonstrate they understand the training. Supporters of the bill said the second part would be its main change. (Leys, 2/15)
Reuters: Kentucky Lawmaker Takes Aim At Anti-Abortion Law With 'Viagra' Bill
A Kentucky lawmaker fed up with anti-abortion laws in her state has introduced a bill that would require men seeking erectile dysfunction drugs to visit a doctor twice, get a note from their wives and swear on the Bible to be faithful. Representative Mary Lou Marzian, a Democrat from Louisville who has been a lawmaker for 22 years, told Reuters on Monday the bill is symbolic but she is glad that it has gotten attention because she is trying to make a point about government intrusion. (Ortiz, 2/15)
PBS NewsHour: Viagra Rx Would Require Wives’ Consent In Proposed Kentucky Bill
A Kentucky legislator has introduced a bill that would require men to get signed permission from their spouses and visit a doctor twice before they could receive drugs for erectile dysfunction. Louisville Democratic State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian said her bill, House Bill 396, was filed in direct response to a series of anti-abortion bills offered by Kentucky lawmakers. (Barajas, 2/15)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Bills Would Increase Lead Testing In Pa.
A Pennsylvania state legislator said Friday he would introduce a package of bills to increase lead testing in the commonwealth. The first bill would require children under 6 to be tested for elevated blood levels of the toxic metal, said State Rep. Angel Cruz (D., Phila.). (2/13)
Bloomberg: Community Health Has Surprise Quarterly Loss As Admissions Fall
Community Health Systems Inc., the U.S.’s second-largest chain of for-profit hospitals, reported an unexpected fourth-quarter loss as admissions were hurt by falling numbers of patients during a slow flu season. Total hospital admissions fell 3.6 percent from a year earlier, and fell 3.4 percent on a same-facility basis, Franklin, Tennessee-based Community Health said in a statement on Monday. (Lauerman, 2/15)
