Latest California Healthline Stories
Workers at L.A. County Medical Facilities Did Not Disclose Criminal History
Los Angeles County CEO William Fujioka announced that county managers had not taken proper action against employees at county medical facilities who had not disclosed their criminal records. Some of the offenses could be grounds for termination, Fujioka said. Los Angeles Times.
President Set To Reject Medicare Bill; Congress Ready To Override Veto
An HHS official said that as early as today, President Bush could veto a bill that avoids a Medicare pay cut to doctors and cuts payments to Medicare Advantage plans. The measure passed both the Senate and House with veto-proof majorities. CongressDaily et al.
Autism Treatment Costs Should Not Fall on Insurers
Gary Toebben, CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Ohman, president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, wrote letters to the editor in response to a Los Angeles Times article on the cost of autism treatment. They argue that placing the entire financial burden onto health plans will drive up health care costs for everyone. Los Angeles Times.
Drug Industry’s Voluntary Marketing Policy Not Enough
Robert Pearl, executive director and CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, called the pharmaceutical industry’s new voluntary marketing guidelines “nothing more than window dressing, a weak, transparent move by an industry that is pretending to take strong action, but is really doing nothing more than preserving its ability to continue its most problematic practices.” Pearl writes that his medical group strictly prohibits its physicians from accepting any gifts from drug or device companies. San Francisco Chronicle.
New L.A. County-USC Medical Center To Face Overcrowding
A 5% surge in patients is expected to result in overcrowding at the new, smaller Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to an independent report requested by the county’s Board of Supervisors. The new facility is scheduled to open this fall. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Legislature OKs Bill To Ban Trans Fat in Restaurants
On Monday, California lawmakers approved a bill (AB 97) that would ban restaurants and bakeries from using trans fat. The legislation now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not yet taken a position on the bill but last year signed legislation to ban trans fat in public school cafeterias. Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle.
Schwarzenegger Weighs Legislation on Insurer Payments to Doctors
Both houses of the Legislature have approved a measure that would give the Department of Managed Health Care greater authority to fine health insurers that do not pay the full bill submitted by doctors. DMHC officials and health plans oppose the legislation. Los Angeles Times.
UC Service Workers Strike at Medical Centers, Campuses Statewide
UC officials said that most patient care workers reported to work, although some observed a sympathy strike for the service employees at UC’s five medical centers and 10 campuses. UC officials obtained a court ruling barring the strike. Oakland Tribune et al.
Court Halts Medi-Cal Pay Cut for Pharmacists During Lawsuit
A federal appeals court has ruled that a suit challenging the constitutionality of cuts to Medi-Cal pharmacist payments can proceed, overturning a lower court ruling. The appeals court also blocked those cuts from taking effect until at least August, but it did not delay similar payment reductions for other health care providers. Sacramento Business Journal, Los Angeles Daily Journal.
New Technology Increases Medical Treatment Costs
New medical technologies are driving up health care costs because of insensitivity to price, lack of competition and technological complexity, according to studies. Some low-tech applications might be more effective and cost-efficient. BusinessWeek.