Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Seeks Nearly 10% Cut in Physician Payments
A recent American Medical Association survey indicates that 32% of physicians would accept fewer new Medicare beneficiaries if reimbursements were cut by nearly 10%, and 28% said they would stop seeing Medicare beneficiaries altogether. Dow Jones, Tennessean.
Medicare Chief Touts Pilot Program To Combat Claims Fraud
Acting CMS Administrator Leslie Norwalk said the effort in Southern California and Southern Florida aims to keep medical equipment companies that commit billing fraud out of the Medicare program. The project could be expanded nationwide. Miami Herald, Bloomberg/Washington Post.
Access, Reimbursements Looming Issues in Debate on Dental Care
Advocates are calling on the state to boost funding of Denti-Cal and specifically address dental care in efforts to rework California’s health care system. A recent transfer to the federal government of unspent funds for dental services drew criticism from dental health advocates and dentists in California. Sacramento Bee.
California Launches New Public Health Department
The new Department of Public Health was created after officials worried that the state was placing too much emphasis on managing Medi-Cal and was not devoting enough attention to public health issues in California. Contra Costa Times.
Lawmakers Consider Single-Payer Health Care System
Sen. Sheila Kuehl is stumping for legislation to create a single-payer health care program in California, arguing that such a system would reduce administration costs and allow Californians to change jobs more freely. KQED’s “The California Report.”
Data Mining Helps Identify Rare Rx Drug Side Effects
Prescription drug data mining can help researchers identify rare side effects that went unnoticed in clinical trials. However, the process also can trigger false alarms and redirect money and time from more important issues. Wall Street Journal.
Enrollment Begins in San Francisco Health Care Access Program
San Francisco officials hope to identify and correct any logistical problems during the first two months of a limited roll out for Healthy San Francisco, the city’s effort to expand access to medical treatments to uninsured residents. San Francisco Chronicle.
Massachusetts Health Insurance Requirement Goes Into Effect
Penalties for being uninsured won’t start until 2008, but analysts say it will be hard to convince residents who aren’t eligible for subsidized plans to pay for coverage. About 130,000 previously uninsured residents enrolled in plans by July 1. USA Today et al.
Judge Orders Pay Hike for State Mental Health Workers
The pay raises ordered by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton will be granted to all clinicians whose colleagues in state prisons received raises earlier this year, prompting staff shortages at state mental health facilities. Karlton hopes the raises will reduce the shortages. Los Angeles Times.
Nearly Half of Employees Lack Disability Insurance
One out of three 20-year-old workers today will become disabled before reaching the retirement age of 67, but 42% of workers lack short-term or long-term disability coverage. In addition, many employers who offer disability policies are shifting costs to workers. New York Times.