Latest California Healthline Stories
GOP Lawmakers Blast HHS for Touting ‘Free’ Preventive Services
Earlier this month, a group of 10 GOP senators sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius criticizing HHS for promoting preventive services under Medicare as “free.” The senators said that taxpayers assume the cost of such services. American Medical News, Fierce Healthcare.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 17, 2012
State officials have halted construction at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center after hospital officials repeatedly changed building plans. Meanwhile, two Stockton hospitals have passed site surveys to become designated as preferred destinations for certain heart attack patients.
FDA Announces Probe of Fake Avastin Sold to Calif. Physicians
FDA has announced that it is investigating vials of fake Avastin, an intravenous drug used to treat cancer. The agency has sent letters notifying 16 California health providers that they may have been sold the counterfeit drug. AP/Contra Costa Times et al.
St. Joseph’s Data Breach Could Affect 31K Patients Statewide
This week, St. Joseph Health System announced that a recent data breach affecting 21,300 patients at two Orange County hospitals also might have exposed the health records of more than 10,000 patients from four hospitals in Napa, Petaluma and Santa Rosa. Officials said the compromised data did not include Social Security numbers, addresses or financial data. North Bay Business Journal.
Bill on Payroll Tax, ‘Doc Fix’ Clears Congress, Heads to Obama’s Desk
Today, both the House and Senate voted to pass legislation that would extend the payroll tax cut, continue unemployment benefits and delay scheduled cuts to Medicare physician payments. The bill now goes to President Obama, who has pledged to sign it “right away.” Politico et al.
Letter Accuses CalOptima Officials of Improprieties
On Thursday, an anonymous letter faxed to the board of directors of CalOptima — Orange County’s Medi-Cal managed care plan — alleges that CalOptima Chair Ed Kacic uses his position to steer funds to the Irvine Health Foundation, of which he is president. The letter also alleges that CalOptima board member Mary Anne Foo “accepts pay for working for CalOptima while working on its board.” Both Kacic and Foo said the allegations are false. Voice of OC.
HHS To Delay Deadline for Complying With New Medical Coding System
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced that HHS will begin the process to delay the deadline by which certain health care providers must start using ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes. HHS has yet to announce a new timeline for ICD-10 compliance. Wall Street Journal‘s “Health Blog” et al.
Steinberg Says Tax Plans Rivaling Brown’s Should Drop From Ballot Race
Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg wants more support for Gov. Brown’s tax proposal, saying two rival plans should bow out of competition for the November ballot. He said Brown’s plan has the best chance of passage. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal” et al.
Expert Suggests Change in Public Worker Pension Model
Instead of basing retirement payouts on service time, governments should adopt a public pension model that offers employees a chance to earn higher retirement pay based on their job performance, according to a report published in the Journal of Pension Benefits. The report was prepared by Dan Van Bogaert, an adjunct professor in human resource management at UCLA and Brandman University. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Fate of Part-Time Legislature Plan Uncertain, Column Says
Assembly member Shannon Grove’s proposed November ballot measure to return the state Legislature to a part-time body “could resonate with voters” because it would address the “chronic dysfunction” in the legislative system, Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters writers. However, he notes that the measure “faces an uphill struggle” because “California’s crisis of governance is deeply rooted and immune to silver bullet solutions.” Sacramento Bee.