Latest California Healthline Stories
Needle Exchange Program Urged for Stanislaus County
On Monday, a civil grand jury advised Stanislaus County to create a needle exchange program to reduce the rising number of hepatitis C infections. According to the grand jury report, the county is expected to have 620 new hepatitis C cases this year, up from 519 in 2007. Modesto Bee.
Oakland Hospital Says Lower Medi-Cal Pay Pushed Service, Job Cuts
The head of Children’s Hospital Oakland said Medi-Cal payment cuts to health care providers are the key factor behind reductions to outpatient services and layoffs that the hospital announced this week. Alameda County officials criticized the move. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Enrollment Expansion for Healthy San Francisco Program in the Works
San Francisco leaders are holding off on expanding eligibility for the program until an appeals court rules on the legality of a provision that would require employers to meet health care spending requirements. Officials hope to expand eligibility in 2009. San Francisco Chronicle.
Independent Pharmacies Worry About Medi-Cal Cuts
Independent pharmacies in California say that 10% reductions to Medi-Cal payments for health care providers will push them to stop participating in the program or out of business. Pharmacists say the reduced rates would not cover the cost of medications in some cases. Stockton Record.
Universal Health Care Too Costly for California
California’s independent Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill estimates that a universal, government-run health care proposal by Senate Health Committee Chair Sheila Kuehl would result in a $46 billion deficit after five full years of operation, according to an editorial. It concludes, “We can’t afford any more ‘free’ government services.” Orange County Register.
Doctor, Insurer Groups Launch Ads Over Bill on Medicare Payments
The American Medical Association and the trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans have kicked off competing advertising campaigns intended to pressure lawmakers on Medicare legislation that would avoid a pay cut for physicians by reducing payments to insurers. CongressDaily et al.
HMO Regulator Brings ‘Balance Billing’ Suit Against Prime Healthcare
The California Department of Managed Health Care is suing Prime Healthcare Services, a hospital chain, for billing patients for balances on bills insurers didn’t pay. State regulations to ban the practice, called balance billing, are expected to take effect in the fall. Los Angeles Times.
Rising Cost of Health Care, Other Essentials Hurt Seniors
U.S. seniors on fixed incomes are having difficulty paying for medicine, food and gas as inflation continues to rise. CMS data show that premiums for Medicare and newer plans under the program — in addition to the costs for copayments, deductibles and other expenses associated with Medicare — “eat up 26% of a typical Social Security check.” USA Today.
Newspaper Posts Video of Controversial Patient Death
This week, the Los Angeles Times posted online a security camera video sent anonymously to the newspaper of a May 2007 incident in which a dying patient was ignored at Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital’s emergency department. Los Angeles County has maintained that the tape is “confidential, official information” and refused to release the video. Los Angeles Times.
Sen. Kennedy Working To Build Support for Major Health Care Effort
Aides to Sen. Ted Kennedy have begun meeting with health care experts in preparation for a federal effort to provide universal health coverage. Participants in the meetings say Kennedy believes there is a need to address health care early in the next president’s administration. Boston Globe.