Latest California Healthline Stories
Judge Says ‘Sarah’s Story’ Can Stay on Ballot Materials
On Friday, a Sacramento judge ruled that official ballot guides for Proposition 4 may include Sarah’s story. Opponents of the parental notification measure argued that the story should be removed from materials because the measure does not apply to the girl. An editorial calls Proposition 4 “the most deceptive measure on the California ballot this fall.” Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News.
Cisco Systems Finds PHRs Cut Employee Health Care Costs
San Jose-based Cisco Systems has found that providing patients with personal health records has resulted in fewer physician visits, increased employee productivity and lower health care costs. Three years ago, Cisco began participating in the PHR pilot program with Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.
Lawmakers Should OK Bill To Inform Patients of Options
Legislation (AB 2747) introduced by Assembly member Patty Berg “would ensure that patients get the information they need to make decisions about their” end-of-life medical care, according to an editorial. It adds, “It would be a shame to keep these improvements off the books because of symbolism inappropriately imposed on it by opponents of a right-to-die measure that isn’t even before the Legislature this year.” Los Angeles Times.
Schwarzenegger Throws Support to Health Care Reform Proposals
Gov. Schwarzenegger is backing a series of proposals that would tighten rules on insurers and health care providers while expanding public information about health care quality. Some of the proposals have not been introduced as legislation, raising questions about whether they will make it through the Legislature before lawmakers adjourn at the end of August. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Telemedicine Initiative Boosts Eye Screenings for Diabetes Patients
Clinics throughout California are using special digital cameras to photograph the retinas of diabetes patients to screen them for diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness. Patients otherwise would face long waits to see specialists who participate in Medi-Cal. Contra Costa Times.
2004 Tip Led to Investigation Into Health Care Fraud Ring
A 2004 tip from Scott Johnson, an employee at the Union Rescue Mission, led to an investigation into an alleged fraud scheme that used homeless patients to fraudulently bill federal and state health insurance programs for tens of millions of dollars. New York Times.
Draft of Democratic Platform Highlights Access to Health Care
The health care position states that there are a variety of Democratic proposals aimed at achieving universal coverage, but it does not advocate an individual mandate to buy health insurance. The platform will be approved at the party’s convention in Denver at the end of August. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette et al.
Employers Violate Workers’ Compensation Law
Recent audits have found that California employers are violating workers’ compensation laws. In May, a quarterly survey of 500 randomly selected companies found that at least 12.4% of them did not offer workers’ compensation. The state is stepping up enforcement against employers suspected of violating the law. Los Angeles Times.