Latest California Healthline Stories
California Among States Facing Health Care Cuts Because of Budget Gaps
California lawmakers have approved more than $1 billion in cuts to Medi-Cal pay to health care providers, and Gov. Schwarzenegger is pushing reductions in Medi-Cal services. Together, about 24 states face budget deficits totaling $34 billion this year. AP/Ventura County Star.
San Francisco Eateries Pass on New Health Care Costs to Customers
The Healthy San Francisco program requires businesses with more than 20 employees to spend a certain amount on health care, prompting some restaurants to charge service fees and raise prices. Restaurants are suing to overturn part of the law’s funding mechanism. Los Angeles Times.
High Rx Drug Prices Lead to Scrutiny of Dosage Levels
Some experts say that about 25% of the recommended dose of Cerezyme — a drug used to treat patients with Gaucher disease, a rare inherited enzyme deficiency — is adequate for most patients and could create savings of more than $200,000 per patient annually. However, others say reducing the dosage could put patients at risk. New York Times.
Live Discussion Examines State of Prison Health Care
KPBS’ “Forum” will host a special live broadcast today from San Francisco General Hospital on the state of health care for California prisoners. The first hour of the discussion will focus on in-prison and post-prison care, ethical issues and costs, while the second hour will examine mental health issues for youth. KPBS’ “Forum.”
Wal-Mart Estimates $1B in Nationwide Savings From Discount Drug Plan
Wal-Mart says a company program that sells prescriptions for select generic drugs for $4 has saved U.S. customers more than $1 billion, including almost $27 million in California. Wal-Mart says the program has forced drug prices down. Sacramento Business Journal, Arizona Republic.
New Graduate Program To Focus on Age Research
The Buck Institute for Age Research and Dominican University of California have partnered to offer a master’s degree in biology with an emphasis on age research. Other biology graduate programs have age research components, but this program is the first with a focus on aging, according to officials. San Francisco Business Times.
San Diego County Reviews Proposal for ‘Mental Health Courts’
San Diego County officials will meet tomorrow to consider establishing a two-year treatment regimen as an alternative to incarceration for offenders with mental illnesses. Forty-three counties in California operate so-called mental health courts. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Nevada Hepatitis Outbreak Linked to Cost-Cutting
Investigators found that since 2004, staff at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada had been reusing medical vials and syringes during anesthesia in an effort to cut costs. As a result, 40,000 patients have been urged to be tested for hepatitis and HIV. Los Angeles Times.
Judge: Prison Overcrowding Suit Could Be Settled
Over the weekend, U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson said he is hopeful that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration and lawyers will be able to resolve their dispute over prison overcrowding before the class-action case goes to trial. Henderson is one of three jurists on a panel that will consider the case on prison medical and mental health care. Sacramento Bee.
California Medical Board Taking Longer To Resolve Complaints
Resolving complaints against California doctors took more than 200 days longer in 2007 than it did less than 10 years ago, fueling criticism of the way the California Medical Board disciplines doctors. A state official says recruitment and retention problems for investigators at the medical board have contributed to the process being drawn out. Los Angeles Times.