Latest California Healthline Stories
Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Case on Medical Test Patents
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit that could determine the legality of patents for certain medical screening tests. The justices appeared to be split over whether companies should be allowed to patent such diagnostic tests. AP/Washington Post et al.
Two California Health Systems Settle Medicare Overbilling Allegations
Catholic Healthcare West and Sutter Health have paid $2.3 million to the federal government to settle claims that they improperly billed Medicare. Thirty-six CHW hospitals and 25 Sutter Health facilities were involved in the investigation. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Columnist Raises Questions About State Stem Cell Agency
Geron’s announcement last month that it was stopping “the first human trial of stem cell-based spinal cord therapy … underscores the old questions, and raises new ones, about what [the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] is supposed to accomplish,” Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik writes. Geron refunded a loan from CIRM to fund the trial, but “CIRM needs to take a good look at whether it pushed too hard for the Geron loan and overplayed the significance of the trial,” according to Hiltzik, who adds, “These questions are only going to become more important in the future, as CIRM prepares to ask California voters for new billions to supplement its original $3 billion bond issue authorized by voters through 2004’s Proposition 71.” Los Angeles Times.
Report: California’s Health Care Spending Among Lowest in U.S.
A new report from CMS finds that California had one of the lowest rates of health care spending in 2009 at $6,238 per person. Experts point to the state’s high number of uninsured residents as a reason for the low spending. Los Angeles Times et al.
Proposed Ballot Measure Aims To Place Controls on State Spending
Three fiscally conservative groups have proposed a ballot initiative to control state spending. Health care advocates say the proposed spending caps could harm health and human services programs for low-income Californians. Sacramento Bee et al.
Experts Weigh CHA’s Exit From Quality Rating Program
On Tuesday, KQED’s “Forum” examined the decision by the California Hospital Association to withdraw its support from a program that provides consumers with data on hospitals’ quality of care. The segment includes comments from Adams Dudley, professor of medicine and health policy at UC-San Francisco; Betsy Imholz, special projects director for Consumers Union; and David Perrott, chair of CHA’s Quality Committee, and senior vice president and chief medical officer for Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. KQED’s “Forum.”
Several Calif. Facilities Named to List of Top Hospitals Nationwide
The Leapfrog Group has named several California facilities to its 2011 list of top U.S. hospitals. Eighteen Kaiser Permanente hospitals are included in the list, which is based on several health care quality measures. San Francisco Business Times et al.
Report Ranks California 24th Among States for Overall Health
A new report ranks California the 24th healthiest state in the U.S. According to the report, the state has low rates of infant mortality and smoking, but it has a significant number of uninsured residents. Sacramento Business Journal et al.
Disbanding Mt. Diablo Health District Could Free Up Funds
Dissolving the Mt. Diablo Health Care District would be justified because the cost savings could be spent on community health programs, according to an independent analysis done for the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission. The district handed over operations of its Mt. Diablo Medical Center to the John Muir Health system 15 years ago, but it continues to receive about $240,000 annually in property tax revenues. A new law allows such commissions to eliminate districts without holding elections. The Contra Costa commission is seeking public comment on the analysis through Dec. 26. Contra Costa Times.
Senators Hear Testimony on Proposed Merger of Medco, Express Scripts
Yesterday, members of a Senate subcommittee expressed reservations about a proposed merger of pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions. The senators heard testimony from representatives of pharmacies and the two companies. Modern Healthcare et al.