Latest California Healthline Stories
UCSF Receives $6.5M To Study Head, Neck Cancer
On Monday, UC-San Francisco announced that philanthropists Irwin and Joan Jacobs have given the university $6.5 million for head and neck cancer research. UCSF said the donation is believed to be the largest private gift focusing on this kind of research. San Francisco Business Times.
Preliminary Ruling Goes Against Kaiser, DMHC on Autism Coverage
Earlier this month, a judge cleared the way for a trial challenging insurers’ stance on covering autism treatments, as well as criteria the Department of Managed Health Care has used to review appeals of insurers’ claim denials. Los Angeles Times.
Obama Administration’s Handling of H1N1 Flu Drawing Criticism on Hill
Two Senate leaders are raising concerns about HHS’ ability to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus and whether the government responded appropriately to vaccine shortages. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone. Washington Post et al.
Debate Over ‘Bundled’ Payments Heats Up
Health care reform proposals in Congress would call for additional Medicare pilot projects on “bundled” payments and allow Medicare to expand the concept if successful. Proponents say that moving away from the fee-for-service system would lead to better, more efficient care. However, some physicians say they are concerned that bundling payments would lead to hospitals cutting costs by using fewer specialists to consult on patients. Kaiser Health News/USA Today.
GOP: AARP Has Financial Interests in Health Reform
Congressional Republicans are accusing AARP of having a conflict of interest in the debate over health insurance because the group receives significant earnings from insurance royalties and could benefit from many of the health care reform proposals. On Monday, three House Republicans sent a letter to AARP saying that the group was putting its “political self-interests” ahead of seniors. Washington Post.
CalOptima Reports Data Breach That Could Affect 68,000 Members
CalOptima — Orange County’s Medi-Cal managed care plan — has posted an alert on its Web site about the loss of unencrypted CDs that included personally identifiable information for 68,000 members. State and federal agencies also have been notified. Computerworld, Health Data Management.
Reid Says Senate’s Health Care Overhaul Will Have Public Option
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid resolved weeks, if not months, of speculation, when he announced that the Senate’s health care reform proposal would include a government-run health plan that states could opt out of. The news was broadly welcomed by Democrats and the White House but drew sharp criticism from Republicans. Washington Post et al.
UCSF, UC-Berkeley Form Cancer Research Center
With a five-year, $15.6 million National Cancer Institute grant, scientists at UC-Berkeley and UC-San Francisco have created a new cancer research center. NCI said that similar centers have been formed at 11 other major universities and research centers and that all of the centers will collaborate with one another. San Francisco Chronicle.
Blue Shield of California Foundation CEO To Step Down
Blue Shield of California Foundation President and CEO Crystal Hayling will leave the not-for-profit organization at the end of the year to move to Singapore with her husband, Chris Misner, an executive at Apple, officials said. An executive search for Hayling’s replacement already is under way, according to a Blue Shield of California Foundation spokesperson. San Francisco Business Times.
Health Care Overhaul Would Help California, Editorial Says
An editorial cites a UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study indicating that elements of Democratic health care reform proposals would cut the percentage of Californians without health insurance. The editorial adds, however, that reform plans also could hurt public California hospitals that receive disproportionate share payments. San Jose Mercury News.