Latest California Healthline Stories
Riverside, L.A. Counties Weigh Response to State Payment Delays
Riverside County supervisors have authorized legal action against the state for withholding payments to counties for mental health and other social services. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County supervisors are considering withholding tax payments to the state to help fund services. Riverside Press-Enterprise, Los Angeles Times.
Daschle Withdrawal Sparks Talk About Health Care Reform Prospects
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination to lead HHS, raising discussion about what the move could mean for efforts to overhaul the U.S. health care system. Insiders said the White House would not immediately put forward a new nominee for HHS secretary. New York Times et al.
California Regulators Advance Investigation of Kaiser Call Centers
The probe into Kaiser Permanente’s call centers began when a nurse sounded an alarm about call center staff mishandling calls and potentially affecting Kaiser members’ access to care. The state now has obtained documents from Kaiser as part of its investigation of the call centers. Sacramento Bee.
CalPERS Kicks Off Process To Collect Bids for HMO Coverage
In a new request for proposals, CalPERS is seeking bids from health plans that can compete with Kaiser Permanente and offer HMO coverage to members. The move comes as Gov. Schwarzenegger is pushing to transfer responsibility for negotiating state workers’ health insurance benefits from CalPERS to the state. Sacramento Business Journal.
San Joaquin Health Groups Award $250,000 in Grants
This week, St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Health Plan of San Joaquin awarded grants totaling more than $250,000 to San Joaquin County agencies that provide direct health services to some of the area’s neediest residents. Stockton Record.
UC Reaches Tentative Contract With Nurses’ Union
The proposed contract will provide more than 10,000 nurses represented by the California Nurses Association with 4% wage hikes and address concerns about staffing. Nurses will vote on the contract offer this weekend. KPBS’ “KPBS News.”
California, FTC Hit Drugmakers With Antitrust Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleges that Solvay Pharmaceuticals paid millions of dollars under agreements with three other drugmakers aimed at keeping generic versions of Solvay’s testosterone treatment off the market until 2015. Solvay denies the allegations. Los Angeles Business, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Generic Coverage Could Boost Rx Compliance for Medicare Beneficiaries
A new Health Affairs study suggests that offering generic coverage within the so-called “doughnut hole” of the Medicare drug benefit would reduce the drop in medication usage that researchers have found occurs during the coverage gap. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
San Bernardino County To Cut Ties With AIDS Project
On Friday, San Bernardino County Health Officer Maxwell Ohikhuare announced that the county will cut ties with the Inland AIDS project effective Feb. 21 after an audit determined that the project no longer was able to adequately supply health and social support services to people with HIV/AIDS through its Ryan White program. The county will transition about 700 clients the Inland AIDS projects served to other agencies contracted to provide the same services. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Humana Reports 28% Drop in Fourth-Quarter Profit
On Monday, Humana reported that its fourth-quarter profit dropped by 28%. The health plan attributed the drop to higher claim expenses from its stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans, lower investment income and a loss of commercial business. Humana reiterated its prediction of a big rebound this year. Louisville Courier-Journal.