Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Highlights: Bill Would Let Californians Know About Unreasonable Rate Hikes; Va. Mental Health Advocates Push For Reforms
California Healthline: Unreasonable Rate Hike? Proposed Legislation Would Tell You About It
California consumers should know when their health insurance premium rates have been deemed unreasonable by the state. That's the primary purpose of a bill (SB 908) proposed yesterday in the state Senate. (Gorn, 1/27)
The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Advocates Push For Mental Health Reforms
With a steady smile and commanding voice, Beth Hilscher led a group of mental health advocates from office to office in the General Assembly building on Wednesday. She introduced them to senators and staff members and gently encouraged them to tell their stories — Pat, whose 34-year-old son needs intensive treatment for schizoaffective disorder; Rebekah, whose sister is often without insurance because bipolar disorder makes it hard for her to hold a job. (Kleiner, 1/27)
CALmatters: California Doles Out Millions To Insurers For Hepatitis C Drugs
In an unusual funding arrangement, California is paying private health plans hundreds of millions of dollars in supplemental payments to cover the high price of hepatitis C drugs for patients in Medi-Cal managed care plans. (Bartolone, 1/27)
Minnesota Public Radio: St. Paul Will Explore Making Earned Sick And Safe Time Mandatory
St. Paul leaders want to explore mandatory earned sick and safe time for all employees in the city. Under a City Council resolution to be released Thursday, a task force will explore how businesses of all sizes in St. Paul could offer earned sick and safe time benefits to their employees. (Nelson, 1/28)
The Charlotte Observer: Attention, Please: Plain Language Replaces Color-Coded Alerts At Some Hospitals
I was sitting at Carolinas Medical Center Last month when an ominous-sounding voice came over the loud speaker: "Security alert. Threat of violence. Levine Children's Hospital. 10th floor. Avoid the area." (Garloch, 1/27)
The Connecticut Mirror: In Shoreline Cancer Treatment Dispute, Questions About Hospital Competition
What began with a plan to replace an aging piece of medical equipment has turned into a dispute over the delivery of cancer care along Connecticut’s affluent shoreline. (Levin Becker, 1/28)
The News Service Of Florida: Florida Prisons Sued Over Treatment Of Disabled Inmates
A group representing disabled inmates has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Florida prison officials of discriminating against prisoners who are deaf, blind or confined to wheelchairs, in violation of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Tallahassee by Disability Rights Florida, alleges that the Department of Corrections failed to provide interpreters and auxiliary aids, prosthetic devices and wheelchairs, and assistants and tapping canes to inmates with disabilities. (Kam, 1/27)
