A lot going on in California…

Governor Patrick is in California this week for an international biotechnology conference toting his new $1 billion life-sciences package that he signed into law on Monday. According to the Globe, he is hoping his initiative will help him beat the competition (California, Florida, etc.) in attracting new life sciences companies to Massachusetts.

Also of interest in California is legislation (AB 2967) introduced by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber to increase transparency and disclosure in the health care industry. The bill would require public reporting of cost and quality by doctors, hospitals HMOs and others in the health care industry. Lieber wants to use the information to funnel health care dollars more appropriately into treatments that work and to deal with health disparties. According to Lieber, “collecting data is better than driving in the dark with no headlights, which is what we’re doing now.”

The bill which passed the house is now in the California State Senate’s Committee on Health.

Also posted on www.rpgworld2blog.com