Latest California Healthline Stories
Blue Shield Awards $31M in Pay-for-Performance Bonuses
About half of the Blue Shield of California payments are part of the Integrated Healthcare Association’s pay-for-performance program. The IHA program has identified a wide gap between clinical scores for groups that use IT effectively and those that do not. San Francisco Business Times, Healthcare IT News.
San Mateo County Adds Staff Positions for Chronic Disease Pilot
The county board of supervisors is adding almost 60 staff positions to help prepare for a federally funded pilot program intended to improve treatment for county residents with chronic conditions. San Francisco Examiner, MediaNews/San Jose Mercury News.
Los Angeles County Supervisors OK Closure of King-Harbor Hospital
The county aims to close the facility within two weeks and is working to add beds at nearby county facilities. The closure is raising concerns from private hospitals’ that county payments won’t cover the cost of treating an influx of indigent patients. Los Angeles Times et al.
Study: Participation Low in U.S. Food Stamp Program
Just over half of eligible residents nationwide received food stamps, a percentage that fell to about 44% in California. Missouri had the highest percentage of eligible residents participating in the program. Sacramento Bee.
Schwarzenegger Pressures Senate Republicans To Approve Budget
At clinics in Republican senators’ home districts, Gov. Schwarzenegger continued to accuse Republicans in the California Senate of delaying action on the state budget as part of a larger effort to derail efforts to rework the state’s health care system. The state will miss another $271 million payment to Medi-Cal providers this week unless a budget is approved. Fresno Bee et al.
Legislature Weighs Bills on Cord Blood Donation
At least two California lawmakers are working to expand the state’s existing efforts on collecting and storing umbilical cord blood, which advocates say can be used as a treatment for leukemia and other types of cancer. San Francisco Chronicle.
Retail Health Clinic Growth Limited in California
California requires that retail health clinics’ nurse practitioners be supervised by physicians, which has limited their growth. The American Medical Association also has called for an investigation into whether conflicts of interest exist at the clinics. East Bay Business Times.
Average Medicare Drug Benefit Premium Set To Increase by $3 in 2008
Technical adjustments required by law are the primary cause of the increase in monthly Medicare drug benefit premiums. A CMS officials credits increased use of generics and strong competition among plans for helping to keep the cost of coverage low. Baltimore Sun et al.
Utah Senator Stumps for Universal Coverage Measure
Sen. Bob Bennett said the legislation to detach health insurance from employment would enhance health insurance and make coverage more affordable through increased competition. Salt Lake City Desert Morning News.
Clinton Shadows Nurse While Vying for Union Endorsement
Hillary Rodham Clinton participated in the Service Employees International Union’s “Walk a Day in My Shoes” program. The union requires that presidential candidates participate in the program to be considered for an endorsement. In related news, Clinton launched a television advertisement that criticizes President Bush for his lack of attention to health care. USA Today.