Latest California Healthline Stories
Health District Cuts Jobs To Offset Increased Costs
To offset an estimated $9.8 million increase associated with patient care in the upcoming fiscal year, Palomar Pomerado Health District will lay off 86 employees, reduce work hours, eliminate vacant positions and cut its overtime pay budget. San Diego Union-Tribune.
California Seeks Clinics To Participate in Telemedicine Network
The state will accept applications through July 30 for clinics interested in participating in its $30 million initiative to create a statewide telemedicine network. Participating clinics will be able to access specialty and emergency care services throughout the state. East Bay Business Times.
Few Californians Use Doctor Rating Web Sites, Poll Finds
Fewer than 25% of California residents reported using physician rating Web sites, and just 2% said they changed physicians based on the information they found on such sites, according to a Harris Interactive poll commissioned by the California HealthCare Foundation. Washington Post.
Individual Health Plan Purchasers Expect 10% Increase in Premiums
In recent years, California’s 2.5 million individual policyholders have seen small premium increases, but that trend could soon change. Insurers likely will raise individual health plan premiums as their costs increase because the plans are more expensive to administer. Sacramento Bee.
Few Companies Address Employees’ Obesity Despite Increasing Costs
Nationwide, companies spend $45 billion annually related to employees’ obesity, but few firms are addressing workplace obesity. Studies have shown that incentives programs, such health club discounts and reduced health insurance premiums, can encourage healthier lifestyles. New York Times.
San Joaquin Valley Works To Boost Number of Minority Physicians
UC-San Francisco’s Doctors’ Academy helps mentor students at three area high schools who are interested in medical careers. Meanwhile, a proposed medical school at UC-Merced also could help boost the number of minority physicians in the area. Fresno Bee.
California Residents Fight Health Plans’ Denial of Medical Care
Residents have a number of resources to turn to if they believe their insurer unfairly denied them necessary health care, including an HMO Help Center, a third-party medical review system with the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance, and legal action. DMHC said about 40% of all cases are settled in favor of the patient. San Francisco Chronicle.
Social Security Numbers on Medicare IDs Spark Concern
Social Security Administration officials have requested that CMS take immediate action to issue beneficiaries new membership cards that do not include their Social Security numbers to address concerns regarding identity theft. CMS officials say the proposal would be costly and impractical. New York Times.
Fresno Hospital Suspends Open-Heart Surgeries
Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno has suspended open-heart surgeries after a state report found that the hospital did not investigate and track infections in its cardiac-surgery unit and did not monitor new heart surgeons. The hospital has until the end of June to respond to instigators’ concerns. Fresno Bee.
Proposal To Limit Immigrants’ Medi-Cal Benefits Spurs Criticism
State officials said California would save about $87 million by limiting health services to about 91,000 immigrants per month, many of whom are in California legally. But immigration advocates argue that the cuts will prevent patients from obtaining preventive care. Ventura County Star.