Latest California Healthline Stories
Some Large Employers Shift Retirees to Private Medicare
Some government agencies and large corporations are moving retirees into private Medicare Advantage, placing more of the cost burden on the federal government. MA plans offer similar coverage to traditional Medigap supplemental policies for significantly lower premiums. Los Angeles Times.
Hospital Performance Rating System Adds New Measures in California
The site has been expanded to measure hospitals in more categories, including intensive care unit mortality rates. The site contains data on 216 California hospitals and aims to expand to 250 facilities. Some hospitals have declined to participate. Ventura County Star.
California Lawmaker Pushes Revision of Workers’ Comp Law
Legislation in the California Senate seeks to change a key provision in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2004 workers’ compensation reforms by barring doctors from reducing a disability award because of a condition stemming from a worker’s age, race, gender, national origin or genetic predispositions. Critics of the bill say it would raise costs for employers. AP/Ventura County Star.
Bush Threatens To Veto High Discretionary Spending Bills
President Bush said he would veto any appropriations bills that do not meet his request to limit increases in discretionary spending by less than 1%. Administration officials will visit Capitol Hill this week to testify before lawmakers about Bush’s budget request. CQ Today et al.
Blue Cross of California To Change Name to Anthem
Anthem Blue Cross will become the official name of Blue Cross of California in two months, while the insurer’s affiliate, Blue Cross Life & Health Insurance, will be changed to Anthem Blue Cross Life & Health. San Francisco Business Times.
Partisanship to Blame for Health Care Reform Defeat
Columnist Daniel Weintraub argues that the Legislature’s rejection of the health care reform deal last month highlights the inability of a centrist proposal to win approval from “leftist Democrats” and “right-leaning Republicans,” while a New York Times editorial urges states to continue pushing efforts to expand health insurance coverage. Sacramento Bee, New York Times.
Expected Citation Latest in Series of Problems at L.A. County Hospitals
Los Angeles County health officials are crafting a correction plan for Harbor-UCLA Medical Center after a patient care violation, making the facility the third county-run hospital in recent months to violate federal rules for emergency department deaths. Los Angeles Times.
Gene Mapping Could Help Identify, Control Outbreaks
Scientists used new genome mapping technology to identify the cause of deaths of three women who had received organ transplants from the same donor, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. The technique also could identify infectious diseases that standard medical tests miss. USA Today.
Merck To Pay $671M To Settle Medicaid Overbilling Lawsuits
The lawsuits alleged Merck overcharged Medicaid for its most popular drugs and offered incentives to physicians to prescribe the treatments. Merck, which did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, said the suits resulted from misunderstandings about Medicaid rules. Washington Post et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 8, 2008
Alameda County voters rejected a parcel tax to fund an expansion of Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland, while the Coronado City Council approved a ballot measure to fund Sharp Coronado Hospital. Meanwhile, Kingsburg District Hospital closed its emergency department.