Latest California Healthline Stories
Battle Continues Over Proposed Cuts to Medi-Cal Payment Rates
Several California health care groups and Medi-Cal beneficiaries are gearing up to sue the state over cuts to Medi-Cal provider rates that are slated to take effect in March 2009. The groups maintain that federal law requires the state to study how the cuts would affect beneficiaries’ access to care, a charge state attorneys dispute. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Budget Deal Fails in Lame-Duck Session of California Legislature
A spending plan that would have cut health care programs by less than Gov. Schwarzenegger had proposed failed to win the votes needed for passage in the California Legislature. Action on the growing budget deficit now falls to the incoming class of lawmakers. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Kaiser Awards $1 Million in Grants for HIV/AIDS Efforts in California
Kaiser Permanente is distributing $1 million in community benefit grants to 62 not-for-profit organizations in California as part of its HIV/AIDS awareness efforts. Kaiser plans to disburse the grants by the end of the year. San Francisco Business Times et al.
Los Angeles County Mental Health Chief To Use Police Less
After widespread criticism, Marvin Soulhard said he would work to have the county’s mental health workers cut back on turning to police to address situations involving people with mental illnesses. The practice has grown as the number of hospital beds for the mentally ill has dropped. Los Angeles Times.
Study Calls for More Research Into Off-Label Drug Use
A new study in the journal Pharmacotherapy calls for more research into the off-label use of 14 drugs, including three antipsychotics and six antidepressants. In creating the list, the researchers considered the volume of off-label use with inadequate evidence, drug safety, and cost and market conditions. USA Today.
Microsoft Study Examines Health-Related Web Searches
Internet users who use search engines to diagnose ailments often conclude the worst, according to a Microsoft study of health-related Internet searches on popular search engines and a survey of the company’s employees’ medical search habits. New York Times.
More Prescription Drug Researchers Turning to ‘Real World’ Trials
The new style of clinical trials is aimed at assessing how medical treatments will work in typical patients. Medical researchers, medical societies, insurers and other advocates are urging Congress to fund a new center focused on such research. New York Times.
Damages Awarded in California Liability Case for HIV Infection
A Los Angeles Superior Court ordered a man to pay $12.5 million to his former wife for infecting her with HIV. The case went to trial after the California Supreme Court ruled that people could be held liable for not telling a partner of previous high-risk sexual conduct. Los Angeles Times.
California Legislature Expected To Vote on Budget; Details Unclear
Legislative aides said the Assembly would vote on a package that included both spending cuts and proposals to increase revenue. The Senate’s incoming Democratic leader stressed that lawmakers had not reached an agreement on the spending plan. Sacramento Bee, KQED’s “Capital Notes.”
Waxman Outlines Priorities for Energy, Commerce Panel
California Democrat Henry Waxman discussed work dealing with health care, Medicaid funding and other issues that the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee could take up in the next session of Congress. Waxman was recently elected chair of the panel. KPCC’s “Patt Morrison.”