State Highlights: Kan. Official Urges Passage Of Controversial Health Compact; Poll Finds Many In Calif. Unaware Of Caregiver Program

The Lawrence Journal-World: Kansas Secretary Of State Seeks Approval Of Health Compact
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is urging Congress to ratify a mechanism that he says would give states an avenue to exempt themselves from the Affordable Care Act. But critics of the plan have said the plan could jeopardize the health care of people who receive other forms of federal health care benefits, including more than 450,000 seniors in Kansas on Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly. (Hancock, 7/13)

The Kansas Health Institute News Service: Kobach Urges Congress To Ratify Controversial Health Compact
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is urging members of Congress to ratify a controversial health compact that would give Kansas and eight other states control over Medicare and other federal health care programs within their borders. Kobach, a Republican whose positions on voter fraud and immigration have made him a controversial figure both in Kansas and nationally, said in a letter to Republican members of Congress that the compact is “the only legal path that we have left to end Obamacare,” referring to the federal Affordable Care Act which was spearheaded by President Barack Obama. (McLean, 7/13)

The Associated Press: AP-NORC Poll: Many Californians Unaware Of Caregiver Program
Christine McCormack quit her job as a restaurant manager two years ago to care for her 88-year-old mother-in-law. While it doesn’t make up for all of her lost income, she’s getting some financial help through an innovative program that allows many of California’s low-income senior citizens and disabled residents to remain in their home. ... A poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that less than one-third of Californians age 40 and over have heard of the program, which dates back to the 1950s. (Freking, 7/14)

Reuters: Oregon Governor Signs Paid Sick Leave, Retirement Legislation
Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed legislation on Monday mandating paid sick leave for nearly all workers and establishing a first-of-its kind state-run retirement program for private sector employees. (7/13)

Kaiser Health News: N.Y. Law Offers Model For Helping Consumers Avoid Surprise Out-Of-Network Charges
It’s a situation that occurs all too often: Someone goes to the emergency room and doesn’t learn until he gets a hefty bill that one of the doctors who treated him wasn’t in his insurance network. Or a diligent consumer checks before scheduling surgery to make sure that the hospital she plans to use and the doctors that will perform it are all in network. Then she learns later that an assistant surgeon who she didn’t know and who wasn’t in her network scrubbed in on her operation. (Andrews, 7/14)

The Kansas Health Institute News Service: Amerigroup Leads MCOs In Kansas Campaign Donations
The three companies that administer KanCare have donated more than $50,000 to the campaigns of current Kansas legislators since the $3 billion Medicaid program began in 2013. Amerigroup leads the trio with $27,750 in donations, as of the most recent filings, which include donations through Dec. 31, 2014. Centene Management Corporation, the parent company of Sunflower State Health Plan, gave $17,250 in that time period. United for Health, the political action committee of United HealthCare, came in a distant third with $6,200 in campaign cash. Amerigroup donated to 20 current senators and 37 current House members, Centene gave to five senators and 26 House members, and United HealthCare donated to nine senators and four House members. (Marso, 7/13)

Orlando Sentinel: New Law Expands List Of Vaccines Available In Pharmacies
You can go to your local pharmacy to get a tetanus shot or get vaccinated for foreign travel, thanks to a new law that took effect July 1. So far, Florida pharmacists could only administer vaccines for flu, pneumonia and shingles. The new law allows them to administer all adult vaccines that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine; human-papillomavirus vaccines; hepatitis A and B vaccines; and vaccines needed for travel or in case of an emergency. (Miller, 7/13)

The Courier-Journal: Floyd Memorial Hospital Weighs Options
Struggling against stiff headwinds, Floyd Memorial Hospital is looking for a financial lifeline. Executives at the 236-bed facility in New Albany, [Ind.] said they intend to hire a consultant to help weigh options for securing the institution's survival — through a merger, an affiliation with a larger hospital group or another deal. The nonprofit, county-owned hospital with 2,200 employees, including 100 doctors, isn't for sale, Dr. Daniel Eichenberger, Floyd's interim CEO, said Thursday in response to a burst of recent rumors about moves executives are contemplating. (Schneider, 7/13)

St. Louis Public Radio: Lack Of State Budget Puts East St. Louis Health Care Facility Into Jeopardy
Illinois has yet to pass a state budget, and an East St. Louis healthcare facility is facing layoffs and other tough decisions as a result. The East Side Health District, which provides health services to area residents, could lay off up to 30 workers, (an amount totaling up to two-thirds of the work staff) and may end up closing altogether if it does not receive state funding soon. (Kellogg, 7/13)

The Associated Press: 400 Employees Of Novant Health To Lose Their Jobs
Novant Health Inc. says it plans to lay off up to 400 employees across the Winston-Salem-based system as part of a reorganization that began last fall. Multiple media outlets report that Novant is recruiting for 1,000 open positions. After deciding which employees can be transferred to new positions, Novant officials say about 400 people will lose their jobs. (7/13)

The Charlotte Observer: Up To 400 Workers To Be Laid Off In Novant Health Reorganization
Up to 400 Novant Health employees – or 2 percent of the hospital system’s workforce – will be laid off in coming days as part of a reorganization that began last fall. The changes became public Monday as officials of the Winston-Salem-based system began talking with Charlotte-area employees about potential reassignments as some positions are eliminated. Some changes are effective immediately, but others will be made in the next 45 days. The changes were necessary because of “declining reimbursements and many other challenges facing the healthcare industry today,” the statement said. “Teams across the organization have worked together to standardize processes which will improve patient quality and safety outcomes, patient satisfaction and achieve financial savings to ensure Novant Health’s long-term financial stability.” (Garloch and Chaney, 7/13)

Health News Florida: Growers, Docs File Low-THC Pot Applications
The Florida Department of Health has 90 days to decide which five nurseries will be allowed to grow low-THC medical marijuana in Florida. As of last week, 24 nurseries had submitted 28 applications. Also, 36 Florida doctors have signed up to dispense the low-THC medical marijuana. It's been more than a year since lawmakers approved a non-euphoric strain of medical marijuana. But its implementation has been slowed by lawsuits. (Aboraya, 7/13)