Latest California Healthline Stories
U.S. Health Care Costs High, Quality Low, Study Finds
The U.S. spends more than twice as much per person for health care as most other industrialized countries but ranks last in death prevention though timely and effective medical care, according a new Commonwealth Fund report. New York Times.
New Medicare Law Has Wider Implications Than Payments to Physicians
This week, Congress overrode President Bush’s veto of a wide-ranging Medicare bill. Most attention was paid to a payment fix for doctors, but the law also deals with Medicare drug coverage, electronic prescribing, competitive bidding programs and preventive care. Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald.
Senate Approves $48B for AIDS Treatment, Prevention
On Wednesday, the Senate voted 80-16 to approve the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Lawmakers allocated $48 billion for the program aimed at treating and preventing HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, triple the amount allocated in 2003. Los Angeles Times.
Single-Payer Health Care Plan Goes Before Panel in California Legislature
Champions and critics of single-payer health care sounded off before an Assembly committee yesterday. Supporters said a bill by Sen. Sheila Kuehl would rein in health care costs, while opponents said the plan would create an unfunded bureaucracy. Sacramento Bee, Capitol Weekly.
Insurance Chief Urges Action on Medical Safety Net
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner argues that the state’s Major Risk Medical Insurance Program is failing to “adequately spread the risk necessary to keep it financially sound” and that “unnecessary constraints” are imposed on the program. He concludes, “The major risk program is the frayed safety net for California’s middle class. Everyone is a pink slip away from needing its protections.” Sacramento Bee.
L.A. City Attorney Takes On Blue Shield of California for Rescissions
City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo wants Blue Shield to reinstate coverage for everyone whose coverage was canceled improperly and estimates that fines and penalties could exceed $1 billion. It is the third such case that Delgadillo has filed against an insurer. Los Angeles Times et al.
New Report Forecasts 12% Hike in HMO Rates for California, the West
The human resources consulting firm Hewitt Associates projects that California and other western states will face HMO premium increases slightly above the national average. A Hewitt consultant said that CalPERS’ lower HMO rate increases could drive up costs for others. Sacramento Bee.
Kaiser Permanente Facilities Win Award for Stroke Care
On Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente announced that the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have awarded Kaiser medical centers in Redwood City and South San Francisco a bronze award for consistently following scientifically backed protocols for treating emergency stroke patients. San Mateo County Times.
California Officials Fight Delay for Medi-Cal Pharmacy Cuts
Last week, a federal appeals court issued a ruling that blocks California from cutting Medi-Cal payments by 10% until at least August. The ruling is intended to give a lower court time to hear a challenge to the cuts. The Department of Health Care Services asked the appeals court to suspend its ruling, citing the state budget deficit. San Francisco Chronicle.
San Jose Officials Seek Drug Manufacturing Plant for Area
San Jose’s redevelopment agency is trying to lure a contract drug manufacturing plant to the area to support its biotech center. Most manufacturers are based on the East Coast or overseas. A recently released consultant’s study estimated that an Edenvale facility would cost up to $23 million. San Jose Mercury News.