Latest California Healthline Stories
Efforts To Block Changes to Medicaid Gain Steam in Congress
A House panel approved legislation that could hamper efforts by the Bush administration to limit Medicaid spending and reimbursements on a variety of services. Gov. Schwarzenegger urged California’s congressional delegation to support the bill. Wall Street Journal et al.
WellPoint Members’ Personal Information Exposed Online
WellPoint is investigating why the personal health data of about 130,000 members was publicly available online. The information might have included Social Security numbers, and pharmacy and medical data. WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross, formerly known as Blue Cross of California. Reuters.
Obstacles to State Health Care Reform Initiatives Linger, Analysis Finds
An analysis of California’s health care reform efforts highlights five substantive obstacles that impeded the initiative and could create problems for other states. The analysis maintains that political hurdles also could hamper efforts. New England Journal of Medicine.
Assembly Panel OKs Legislation on Health Policy Cancellations
Under current California law, health plans retain authority over canceling individuals’ health coverage. Bills in the Assembly would require third-party evaluations before coverage could be canceled and would limit cancellations to the six months after a policy is issued. California regulators are investigating the state’s major HMOs for their cancellation practices. Capitol Weekly.
Doctors Request Repeat Digital Mammograms
Doctors increasingly are requesting additional mammograms as more and more radiologists make the transition from traditional X-ray film to digital mammograms. Physicians are still learning to interpret digital mammograms, and the digital and film versions sometimes are hard to compare. New York Times.
Lawmakers Deride Bush Rules on Kids’ Coverage
A Senate hearing Wednesday focused on a rule proposed by the Bush administration that would require states to enroll nearly all of the lowest-income children in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program before expanding coverage to moderate-income families. Critics say tens of thousands of children will lose coverage under the change. NPR’s “Morning Edition.”
Medi-Cal Cuts Put Mental Health Services in Danger
Cuts to Medi-Cal are causing some California counties to consider ending their Medi-Cal program for patients with mental illnesses, according to an opinion piece. It concludes, “when counties start talking about abandoning their mental health programs, the politicians in Sacramento need to pay attention and find a solution.” Redding Record Searchlight.
California Supreme Court Issues Mixed Ruling on Medical Leave
State law allows employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave when they are unable to perform basic job functions because of a health condition, but the court sided with employers over their ability to investigate the legitimacy of the health condition. San Francisco Chronicle.
Stanislaus County Gets Poor Marks in Health Care Report
Poverty and a lack of adequate medical care contribute to the high rates of infant mortality, obesity, diabetes and heart disease in Stanislaus County, according to an annual report by the Health Services Agency’s Public Health Division. Modesto Bee.