Latest California Healthline Stories
California Health IT Efforts Draw Praise From Acting Medicare Chief
Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems said the U.S. should learn from the state’s successes and mistakes. However, California health information technology leaders noted that small and solo practices are still lagging behind in adoption of electronic health records. Modern Healthcare.
Last Part of Nurse Staffing Rules Takes Effect in State
California is the only state in the nation to require hospitals to meet certain nurse-to-patient ratios. The final provisions of those rules took effect last week, requiring hospitals to meet staffing requirements in telemetry and specialty care units. KQED’s “California Report.”
Report on Costs of Retiree Health Benefits Falls Short
An editorial is skeptical of a recent estimate of how much state and local governments will face over the next three decades in covering retiree health costs. Another editorial criticized the report for not urging unions to scale back their benefits to reduce the liability. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Amgen Sales Tactics Under Fire for Alleged Violations
Two former employees of Amgen claim the drug maker required its salespeople to search through private medical records to find more patients to purchase a drug with low sales figures. The company is accused of violating patient privacy rights and illegally promoting a drug. Los Angeles Times.
Federal Report Faults Specialty Hospitals for Emergency Care
A report by the Inspector General for HHS found that the majority of physician-owned specialty hospitals with emergency departments have only one bed in the unit. A Senate committee plans legislation to increase federal oversight of specialty facilities. Washington Post.
Ventura County Nurses Push for 10% Annual Pay Hikes
The county’s public nurses are seeking a raise significantly higher than what the county is offering. The nurses are paid an average of more than $15 per hour less than other nurses on the West Coast, according to a local nurse. Ventura County Star.
Doctors’ Group Expands Uninsured Campaign
The American Medical Association is moving its campaign to expand health insurance coverage beyond early primary states. This week, AMA started running ads on cable networks, as well as print ads in U.S. News & World Report. The Hill.
Business Groups Voice Concerns With Health Care Reform Measure
Business groups opposed to the health care reform bill negotiated by Gov. Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez argued that it does not ensure coverage over the long term and that inadequate revenue could cause coverage to be suspended. East Bay Business Times.
Analyst Says FDA Approved Only 19 New Drugs in 2007
Some drug makers say the agency OK’d fewer drugs because it is using stricter review criteria. An FDA spokesperson said the agency has not totaled the number of new medications approved in 2007 and could not confirm the number cited by the analyst. Bloomberg/Arizona Daily Star, Newark Star-Ledger.
Dental Care for Poor Expected To Take Hit in California Budget Plan
Gov. Schwarzenegger is expected to call for across-the-board spending cuts to help bridge a projected $14 billion budget deficit. Democratic lawmakers are speaking out against the cuts and are touting tax increases as an alternative. Los Angeles Times, AP/Sacramento Bee.