Latest California Healthline Stories
California Nursing Homes Join Hospitals in Faulting Medicare Audits
PRG-Schultz International, a Medicare claims auditor, has been under scrutiny from California hospitals and lawmakers for rejecting more than 90% of claims for certain services. The auditor now faces additional criticism from California nursing homes. San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Report: Foreign Doctors Fill Gaps in Primary Care
The Government Accountability Office found that an increase in foreign medical school graduates specializing in primary care is making up for a decline in U.S. medical students pursuing primary care specialties. Long Island Newsday.
Schwarzenegger Looks to Biotech Jobs as Source of Economic Growth
While touring a stem cell lab in Carlsbad, Gov. Schwarzenegger highlighted job growth in the biotechnology industry as a bright spot among otherwise sagging employment numbers. The industry attracted $3.2 billion in venture capital investments in 2007. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Criticism Prompts Blue Cross To End Application Review Requests
Blue Cross of California announced it will no longer ask doctors for help in discovering pre-existing medical conditions that patients might have omitted from their coverage applications. The decision was made after the practice was featured in a Los Angeles Times story, which generated criticism from doctors, patient advocates and Gov. Schwarzenegger. Sacramento Bee et al.
Current Flu Vaccine Not Protective Against Two New Strains of Virus
Last week CDC estimated that half of the flu cases this season have been caused by two strains of the virus that were not covered by this year’s vaccine. California officials say it isn’t clear whether the state will see more cases of flu this year than it did last year. Sacramento Bee.
Back, Neck Pain Account for More Health Care Spending
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that spending on back of neck problems jumped by about 65% from 1997 to 2005 at the same time that the percentage of U.S. residents reporting limitations because of back problems also increased. Reuters/Los Angeles Times et al.
Report Finds Shortfall in Children’s Dental Care
A new report from the California HealthCare Foundation indicates that minority children from low-income households are at particular risk of not seeing a dentist. Researchers attribute the problem in part to inadequate Medicaid payments to dentists. KPBS’ “KPBS News.”
Labor Department Publishes Changes to Medical Leave
A Department of Labor official will go before a Senate committee on Wednesday to defend the department’s proposal to require workers to request Family and Medical Leave Act leave in advance under certain circumstances. Democrats are expected to be critical of the proposed changes. CongressDaily.
Presidential Candidates Fail To Address Chronic Diseases
In an opinion piece, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and former Congressional Budget Office Director Dan Crippen write that presidential candidates should promote shifting the focus of government health insurance programs toward prevention and management of chronic diseases. Miami Herald.
U.S. Senator Pitches New Rules for Medicare Managed Care Offerings
Health care analysts expect the Bush administration to oppose any proposals by Democratic lawmakers to overhaul private Medicare managed care plans, called Medicare Advantage plans. Proposals include new rules on marketing tactics and wider regulatory authority for states. CongressDaily.