Latest California Healthline Stories
New Prison Medical Facility Still on Tap for Camarillo
In a letter dated Tuesday to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the Camarillo City Council and various elected officials, federal prison health care receiver J. Clark Kelso said he intends to move forward with plans to build an adult prison hospital in Camarillo by conducting an environmental impact review. Ventura County Star.
Legal Help Moves Into Los Angeles Area Medical Clinics
Through a new partnership, public interest lawyers are working hours in health care clinics in the Los Angeles area to help physicians and patients work through legal obstacles involving Medi-Cal reimbursements, immigration issues and other health care concerns. Similar efforts exist in San Diego and Marin counties. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Both Houses of Congress Approve Mental Health Parity Legislation
The Senate and the House have approved legislation that would require health plans to provide the same level of benefits for mental health conditions as they do for other conditions, but questions linger over whether an agreement can be reached in the remaining days of the congressional session. CongressDaily et al.
Editorial Urges Voters To OK Parental Notification Measure
A San Diego Union-Tribune editorial urges California voters to support Proposition 4, which would require parental notification and a 48-hour wait period for minors seeking an abortion. The editorial states that this year’s measure is “significantly improved” from past parental notification propositions that failed. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Advisory Panel Urges Delay in Development of UC-Riverside Med School
Today, officials will consider plans to build the UC-Riverside’s School of Medicine, evaluating the timing of the project and the state’s budget. A spokesperson said UC-Riverside opposes delaying the project. Riverside Press Enterprise.
Prison Health Receiver Moves Forward With Push for Court Order
J. Clark Kelso dismissed Attorney General Brown’s arguments against his proposed court order and pushed ahead with his request to hold Gov. Schwarzenegger and Controller Chiang in contempt. Kelso has requested $8 billion from the state. Stockton Record, Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Opinion Piece Urges Medi-Cal To Cover Fibromyalgia Meds
In an opinion piece, Ap Sidhu, president of Fresno Long-Term Medical Care, writes that very few of the medicines necessary for treating patients with fibromyalgia are available on the Medi-Cal formulary. He writes, “Our state government has the ability to address this issue so patients will not continue to be denied the care they need.” Fresno Bee.
N.Y. Attorney General Will Award Health Care Funds
The New York State Attorney General is accepting applications for grants for projects targeted at people with high blood pressure or some forms of angina. The grants are part of an antitrust settlement between two drugmakers and the 50 state attorneys general. Cypresfunds.net Web site.
Aetna To Subject Rescission Cases to Independent Review
This week, Aetna will start submitting potential rescission cases to an independent panel of physicians, leaving it to the panel to determine whether members submitted false information or omitted information from their applications. Aetna is believed to be the first insurer in the nation to adopt the practice in every state that it does business. Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant.
Study: Medical Tourism Field Will See Significant Growth Through 2010
Eight times as many people will travel abroad for health care services in 2010 as currently do, according to research by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. The cost of undergoing medical treatment often is lower in other countries, prompting a growing number of Americans to go overseas for care. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.