Latest California Healthline Stories
Concerns Raised About Bill on Health Insurance Rescissions
Legislation before a California Senate panel would require insurers to get approval from state regulators before rescinding policies and establish a new appeals process. Consumer advocates say the bill could limit options for future legal action and expand state regulators’ oversight of contract law issues now handled by courts. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Wal-Mart Sets Sights on Health Care Industry
Wal-Mart is moving more aggressively into health care and pharmaceuticals in hopes of reshaping the industry like it did in the grocery store industry 20 years ago. Wal-Mart is working with several firms to process and pay prescription claims, opening walk-in clinics at its superstores and expanding its $4 generic drug program. BusinessWeek.
Federal Judge OKs Plan for Seven Prison Medical Facilities in California
The court-appointed receiver for California’s prison health care system won approval from a federal judge for his plan to build as many as seven medical facilities for prisoners statewide. How the construction will be funded remains unresolved. San Diego Union-Tribune, Stockton Record.
Nursing Survey Highlights Trends, Future Shortage
A new Health Workforce Solutions survey predicts a severe nursing shortage in the San Francisco area by 2020. The survey of 220 San Francisco area nursing students and 225 experienced RNs also found that Kaiser Permanente hospitals, UCSF Medical Center, Sutter Health’s Mills-Peninsula Health Services and Santa Clara County Medical Center are the most preferred job sites. San Francisco Business Times.
Insurers Award $6.2M to Not-for-Profit Health Care Efforts in California
The 12 recipients of the grants will use them to promote health information technology, medical education and coordinated care programs statewide. The grants were negotiated as part of California’s approval of the UnitedHealth-PacifiCare merger. East Bay Business Times et al.
Court Case To Debate Health Care Coverage for Anorexics
A Los Angeles court case set to begin later this month hinges on whether insurers are required to cover anorexic patients’ medical needs. Attorneys involved in the case likely will argue over how health insurers approve and deny treatment associated with mental illnesses. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Employer Health Costs To Increase Nearly 10% in 2008
Employer health care costs will increase 9.9% in 2008 — more than double the annual inflation rate — and an additional 9.6% in 2009, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers report. A hospital building boom and cost-shifting from the uninsured are two factors driving the increase, according to the report. Associated Press.
San Francisco Area Residents Satisfied With Health Care
A majority of San Francisco area residents say they are pleased with their own health care but reported being dissatisfied with the limited resources available to uninsured residents, according to a survey released Monday. The survey, part of “The American Public on Health Care: The Missing Perspective” project, will be included in a national report on health care. Contra Costa Times.
California Regulators Ask Genetic Testing Services To Prove Compliance
A Department of Public Health spokesperson said 13 genetic testing companies have two weeks to show that their laboratories are certified by federal and state governments and that they are selling tests ordered by physicians, as required by California law. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Federal Reserve Board Chief Urges Action on Health Care
U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chair Ben Bernanke said rising health care costs pose a major economic challenge to the country and warned that high federal spending on health care could force cuts to other programs. Bernanke also said interest rates and economic growth and stability could be compromised if federal entitlement spending is not addressed. CQ HealthBeat et al.