News of the Month — September 2023
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Modern Healthcare notes NUHW’s growth by 1,200 members in 2022 in a story about growing unionization in the healthcare industry.
NUHW is quoted in a San Francisco Examiner story that touches on the overall lack of access to mental health for many San Franciscans. “In a major city like San Francisco, it isn’t a lack of therapists, but a lack of access to care because many health insurers won’t adequately reimburse mental health therapy, and major providers like Kaiser Permanente still leave far too many members waiting too long between therapy appointments,” NUHW President Sal Rosselli said.
Senate Bill 799, which would allow workers who have been on strike for at least 14 days to be eligible for unemployment benefits, awaits Gov. Newsom’s signature, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Healthcare Finance News reported that the California Department of Public Health sent a notice to hospitals, warning them not to violate state law on staffing levels or they can face a $15,000 fine for a first violation and $30,000 for a second. New state policy narrows the circumstances under which hospitals can claim “unpredictable circumstances” for violating the mandate, requiring them to document efforts to maintain safe staffing and that such instances be truly unforeseen.
Kaiser will pay $49 million to settle allegations by the California Attorney General and six district attorneys that the healthcare provider unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste, medical waste, and protected health information at Kaiser facilities statewide, according to ABC7 News. The settlement is the result of undercover inspections conducted by the district attorneys’ offices of dumpsters from 16 different Kaiser facilities.