Latest California Healthline Stories
Retiree Benefits Rule Could Preserve Employer Coverage
A recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruling that allows employers to reduce health benefits for retirees over age 65 might help reduce cuts to employer-sponsored health insurance by “freeing employers to focus on younger retirees” and shifting retirees to Medicare, an editorial states. New York Times.
State Officials Tout Health Benefits of Car Smoking Ban
Mark Horton, director of the Department of Public Health, said the particles found in cigarette smoke can cause or irritate asthma, bronchitis and other illnesses. A new state law fines motorists for smoking in cars when children under age 18 are present. Los Angeles Times.
Appeals Court Agrees To Reconsider Ruling on Policy Cancellations
A state appeals court has vacated a ruling last month finding that Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance’s practice of reviewing member’s applications after claims are submitted is “flatly prohibited.” The insurer requested a rehearing. Los Angeles Times.
Bush Administration Limiting Efforts To Expand Medicaid
Officials from three states say the Bush administration intends to apply new restrictions governing states’ ability to expand enrollment in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to Medicaid. Under the rules, states must enroll the poorest families before expanding coverage to people with higher incomes. New York Times.
Santa Clara County Deserves More Funds To Help Fight TB
An editorial calls on local lawmakers and public health officials in Santa Clara County to pressure the federal government to allocate more funding to the county to help treat and prevent tuberculosis. In 2006, the county had more TB cases than 35 states. San Jose Mercury News.
Lab Mistakes Might Hamper Proper Breast Cancer Care
Laboratory tests used to determine the most effective drugs for individual breast cancer patients can be difficult to interpret and lead to improper treatment. One study found labs report false positives up to 16% of the time and false negatives up to 23% of the time. Wall Street Journal.
Nationwide Health Insurance Mandate Would Be Bad Policy
Hudson Institute fellow Betsy McCaughey writes in an opinion piece that requiring all U.S. residents to obtain comprehensive health insurance is an “unfair solution” to expanding coverage because it would require “hiding a hefty, cost-sharing tax inside” premiums. Wall Street Journal.
Court Seems To Favor Employer Funding for S.F. Health Access Plan
A panel of judges appeared skeptical of last week’s ruling that barred San Francisco’s health care access program from requiring employers to offer insurance or help fund the program. The city is asking the judges for an emergency stay. San Francisco Chronicle, KQED’s “This Week.”
Health Care Information Gets Wider Protection Under California Law
Under a new law that took effect Jan. 1, companies doing business in California are required to notify California patients if their medical or health insurance information is compromised. The law also bars firms from releasing electronic health records without consent. San Francisco Chronicle.