Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has revealed a $12 billion plan designed to fix the state's "broken healthcare system" by addressing the hidden costs that result in billions of dollars in higher premiums and taxes. The plan requires that the state's 6.5 million uninsured residents purchase health insurance. Observers say Schwarzenegger's plan is even more daring than the high-profile effort undertaken by Massachusetts. While both states will require that residents purchase …

> In 2005, cancer patients spent roughly $2.3 billion in traveling to, waiting for and getting care in the first year of diagnosis--a number which only climbs as the disease progresses. Article

> Pediatric physician group Nemours has dumped its contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, leaving thousands of BCBS of Florida enrollees with higher bills for …

> Sacramento, CA-based Sutter Health has been awarded $6.1 million by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to develop model patient safety programs in its hospitals. Sutter plans to match the grant, bringing total program funding to about $12 million. Release

> UnitedHealth is assuring its business customers that things are under control despite ongoing …

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has vetoed a proposed universal healthcare bill for California. If passed, the bill would have extended coverage to all 36 million California residents, replacing the current private insurance system with a state-run system. In a column printed in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Schwarzenegger defended his decision, claiming, "Such a program would cost the state billions and lead to significant new taxes on individuals and businesses, without solving …

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) has issued an executive order that requires the Department of Managed Health Care to protect patients from a practice called "double billing." Payment disputes between doctors and insurers sometimes result in patients being billed for services covered by insurance. The problem arises if, for instance, a hospital charges an insurer for $1000 worth of services but the insurer only pays for $500. In some cases the hospitals have billed patients the remaining …

On Monday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger held the Summit on Health Care Affordability which brought together healthcare business executives, union leaders and representatives of consumer groups to discuss California's uninsurance problem. Opinions on how to fix healthcare were as varied as one might expect, but there was one point almost everyone agreed on: This is a problem that must be fixed sooner rather than later. Article

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said last week he wants to convene a summit to discuss ways in which the state can develop a new healthcare system that will offer assistance to residents unable to afford care. That's led to speculation that Schwarzenegger will propose some variant of the popular insurance reform plan developed by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. It's probably not a coincidence that Romney (R) was in San Diego last week for the annual meeting of America's Health …

Addressing the annual meeting of America's Health Insurance Plans in San Diego, Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) told insurers that they have a prominent role to play in his plan for health insurance reform in Massachusetts. Romney predicted that others will follow his state's lead in developing innovative solutions to the uninsurance problem. "Other states are going to learn from us," Romney said. That does indeed appear to be happening. The San Diego Union Tribune reports that earlier …

> Indonesian health authorities say there is no evidence that bird flu is spreading on the island of Sumatra, after reports of a cluster of cases last week. Article (WSJ sub. req.)

> In Massachusetts, Tufts and BCBS of Mass. reported first quarter operating losses yesterday. Both ended up in the black thanks to investment income. …

California is the latest state to consider a law that would force hospitals to publicly report medical errors. State Sen. Arlene Alquist (D) proposed a bill this week that could impose the harshest reporting requirements in the nation on California hospitals. Under the proposal, hospitals would have 48 hours to report any medical error--including non-life threatening incidents such as giving a patient the wrong medication--to state health officials. Data would be publicly posted on a …