Latest California Healthline Stories
Payment, Billing Issues Await Bush Nominee for Medicare Chief
Implementing new Medicare payment formulas for hospitals and adjusting to new billing procedures for health insurers will be two of the major issues facing Kerry Weems, President Bush’s nominee to head CMS. Weems’ nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The Hill.
Assembly Signs Off on Emergency Response Bill
A bill approved by the Assembly would simplify the process of bringing in out-of-state health care workers to aid in disaster response. Similar efforts are under way nationwide. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Sacramento County Moves To Curb Retiree Health Costs
County officials say that ending contributions to future retiree health care benefits will let the county sidestep a new federal accounting rule that calls for governments and public agencies to disclose future liabilities for health care benefits and pensions. Sacramento Bee.
Software Helps Find Matches for Kidney Transplants
California Pacific Medical Center uses computer software to cross-match two donors and two patients who can exchange compatible kidneys. The exchanges could increase the number of available kidneys by several hundred over the next few years. Fresno Bee.
UC Regents OK Fundraising Drive for Medical Campus
The first phase of construction of UC-San Francisco Medical Center’s new campus will cost more than $1 billion, and medical center officials say other clinical services eventually could be transferred to the Mission Bay campus from existing facilities. San Francisco Business Times.
State Investigating Emergency Responders
A Los Angeles Times investigation last month exposed a lack of oversight of the state’s 85,000 paramedics and emergency medical technicians, prompting the state to take a closer look at three cases profiled in the investigation. Los Angeles Times.
State Officials Raise Concerns on Marketing of Medicare Plans
A U.S. Senator said he would introduce federal legislation to expand state insurance regulators’ authority after hearing testimony from three such officials about their work to combat questionable marketing techniques for Medicare plans. Raleigh News & Observer et al.
Judges Give Green Light to California Stem Cell Institute
California’s Supreme Court cleared the way for the state to begin issuing $250 million in bonds for stem cell research when it declined to take up a challenge to the institute that has worked its way through the courts for more than two years. Los Angeles Times et al.
Hospital Group Offers Guarantee on Heart Surgery
A Pennsylvania hospital chain is using a set of guidelines for treating heart surgery patients that has improved outcomes and reduced the amount of time patients spend in the hospital. New York Times.