Latest California Healthline Stories
New York City To Post Hospital Quality Data Online
Residents will be able to view overall death rates, as well as the rates of death after heart attacks, preventable bloodstream infections and pneumonia cases, at New York City Health and Hospital Corporation’s 11 hospitals. New York Times.
UnitedHealth To Pay $12 Million To Settle Claims System Complaints
The $12 million settlement will resolve allegations about UnitedHealthcare’s past claim practices that resulted from a joint investigation by 36 states and Washington, D.C. The settlement could increase to as much as $20 million if other states join. Minneapolis Star Tribune et al.
Frist Expanding Work on Global Children’s Health Care Issues
Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is working with Save the Children and the One Vote ’08 campaign to appeal to elected officials and presidential candidates to help improve the health of children and women in developing countries. New York Times.
Physicians Burdened by Rising Real Estate Costs
Higher real estate costs for medical offices in Southern California are forcing physicians to increase fees, relocate or even retire early. The rising costs are especially hard on physicians who are contracted with insurers to charge fixed prices for treatment. Los Angeles Times.
Looming Deadline on Health Reform Sparks Commentary
A San Jose Mercury News editorial calls on Republican lawmakers to help broker a deal on health care reform, while a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial contends that a final reform plan is not automatically a better plan. Meanwhile, Dan Walters in his Sacramento Bee column urges lawmakers to take more time to forge a deal. San Jose Mercury News et al.
Federal Legislation Would Make Payments, Gifts to Physicians Public
The measure would require drug and medical device companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue to report gifts or payments to physicians worth more than $25. The information would then be posted on a public Web site. New York Times.