Latest California Healthline Stories
Studies Do Not Rule Out Cancer Risks Tied to Vytorin
Findings from three studies of the cholesterol drug Vytorin neither confirm nor rule out a potential link to a higher risk of cancer, so the drug should be used with caution, editors of the New England Journal of Medicine write in the journal. AP/Los Angeles Times.
WellPoint CEO Works To Curb Drop in Stock Price With Premium Increases
WellPoint’s share price has dropped by about 40% in 2008, prompting CEO Angela Braly to look to premium increases to shore up company earnings. Braly’s goal is to increase premiums without pushing members to drop their coverage. WellPoint is the parent company of California’s Anthem WellPoint. Wall Street Journal.
California Children at Risk of Losing Health Insurance Coverage
Changes in rules for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families could result in many children losing health insurance coverage through the programs at a time when state efforts to tackle to expand coverage have fallen off. Local efforts also are being hit with a loss of funds. Los Angeles Times.
Budget Debate Stretches On; Health Care Facilities Say Closures Possible
California has been without a budget since July 1, and health care institutions have not received Medi-Cal reimbursements since July 24 when a state emergency fund ran dry. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office is studying options for maintaining government operations without a budget. Sacramento Bee et al.
U.S. Census Bureau Reports Drop in Number, Percentage of Uninsured
From 2007 to 2008, the number of people with health insurance coverage increased by more than 3.5 million, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Census officials attributed the drop in uninsured to more children being covered by government programs. USA Today et al.
Editorial, Opinion Piece Back New Balance Billing Rules
Instead of adopting new legislation, an editorial urges lawmakers to step back and see what effect new rules will have as set down by the Department of Managed Health Care that bar out-of-network charges for emergency care. Meanwhile, in an opinion piece, DMHC Director Cindy Ehnes writes that the new regulations “protect consumers because, until the two sides can come to a compromise, patients should not be picking up the tab.” Sacramento Bee.
Poll: Support for Parental Notification Measure Ahead
A poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California last week found that 47% of respondents backed Proposition 4, which would require a parent to be notified at least 48 hours before an unmarried minor had an abortion. Opposition to the measure stood at 44%. San Francisco Chronicle.
Editorial Challenges Stark Stance on Medicare Fraud
Democratic California Rep. Pete Stark criticized CMS as “incompetent” following a report detailing Medicare fraud. However, an editorial maintains that Stark’s criticism underscores problems with Democrats’ support for using Medicare as a model to expand health insurance coverage. Wall Street Journal.
California Officials Seek Suspension of Order Restoring Medi-Cal Pay
Schwarzenegger administration officials asked a judge to drop an injunction that she issued to stop a 10% Medi-Cal reimbursement cut. Medi-Cal chief Stan Rosenstein warned that lawmakers could drop coverage for some services altogether if the pay cut isn’t permitted. San Francisco Chronicle.
Report Sees Major Return on Tobacco Control Efforts
Researchers from UC-San Francisco estimate that the California Tobacco Control Program has resulted in $86 billion in health care cost savings since it was launched in 1989. The program has spent about $1.8 billion from a state tobacco tax increase. San Francisco Chronicle et al.