When health insurers play games, patients lose
Dr. Theodore Corwin jumps through numerous hoops to get UnitedHealthcare to pay for a patient's breast reduction — only to finally be told the surgery wasn't covered by her policy. A 26-year-old woman recently came to his office complaining of back, neck and shoulder pain, as well as numbness in her hands and arms, resulting from her unusually ample bust. She's 5-foot-6, not overweight, Corwin said. She wanted a breast reduction.
UMass Memorial Effort to Cut Services and Staff is Pennywise and Pound Foolish
This morning we learned that UMass Memorial Medical Center has announced yet another round of layoffs and service cuts at its Memorial and University campuses in Worcester. More than 80 registered nurses and as many as 90 other employees will be impacted by the layoff announced today, which includes the closing or reduction in a number of services, including the closing of three OR suites, the closing of an entire medical floor and the elimination of the IV therapy team on the Memorial campus.
Apr 17, 2014
LABOR: Board finds in favor of nurses’ union
The National Labor Relations Board has upheld a judge’s ruling that found that management of Fallbrook Hospital did not negotiate in good faith with a union representing registered nurses, and has also ordered the hospital to reimburse the union for its expenses.
Riverside Press Enterprise
Legislature to Hear Two Bills to Improve Hospital Workplace Safety for RNs, Patients, Other Staff
The California state legislature will consider legislation this week sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United intended to substantially improve workplace safety prevention measures in California hospitals – an issue heightened by the weekend stabbings of two registered nurses at two separate Los Angeles area hospitals.
California Nurses Association
Apr 15, 2014
National Health Groups Join Call for Comprehensive Health Study on Keystone Pipeline
Washington, DC - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), announced today during a press conference call that two national public health groups, the American Public Health Association and the National Association of County and City Health Officials, sent a letter to Secretary of State, John Kerry, joining the request for the Obama administration to complete a comprehensive human health study on the Keystone pipeline.
U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Earth Day Parade and Rally In San Francisco On April 19, 2014
Join nurses on Saturday, April 19 in San Francisco to highlight issues of environmental justice and public health, and to lift up climate solutions.
California Nurses Association
San Diego RNs join fight for access to fresh healthy food at annual Cesar Chavez tribute Friday
San Diego Nurses Issue Public Health Warning. Registered nurses from hospitals throughout San Diego are adding their voices to the growing fight against food injustice in the city’s southeast communities, with their endorsement and participation in this year Cesar Chavez tribute, the California Nurses Association announced today. This year’s theme, Food Injustice: Social Consciousness Raising, Remembered, and Revisited, commemorates the legacy of the labor leader and civil rights activist and is being hosted by the San Diego Community College District and Project New Village.
California Nurses Association
Apr 9, 2014
Nurses Say They Will Continue Public Push to Keep Palm Drive Hospital Open for Community
Registered nurses from Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol, Ca. north of San Francisco will call on the hospital board tonight to keep the hospital open warning that its closure would put tens of thousands of western Sonoma County residents at risk. The Palm Drive Health Care District, which voted to authorize a Chapter 9 bankruptcy for the hospital last week is threatening to shut down the only hospital in the western part of the county despite growing public opposition to its closure. The board is meeting is at 5:30 p.m. at the Sebastopol Community Church Memorial Hall, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy North in Sebastopol.
California Nurses Association
Apr 7, 2014
Levine, nurses lobby for delay in Palm Drive vote
State Assemblyman Marc Levine met with nurses and labor advocates Saturday to discuss his legislative effort to keep open Sebastopol’s fiscally ailing Palm Drive Hospital. The San Rafael Democrat said he’s introduced a bill that would allow the hospital to refinance its debt so bonds could be paid off at lower interest rates. AB582 already has won unanimous, bipartisan support in its first committee hearing and is awaiting approval of the full Senate in the next month or so, he said.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Saturday Press Conference, Sebastopol, Ca. Senior Center
Nurses to Join Assembly member Marc Levine in Call to Stop Closure of Palm Drive Hospital. Assembly member Marc Levine will join with Palm Drive Hospital registered nurses in a press conference Saturday, April 5 to step up opposition to the threatened closure of Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol, Ca. north of San Francisco. The press conference will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N. High St.
California Nurses Association
Apr 4, 2014