Latest California Healthline Stories
White House Official Raises Possibility of Budget Veto
The Senate is advocating higher levels of spending for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and veterans’ health care than President Bush has requested, a situation that could prompt a veto of the budget bills. CQ Today, CongressDaily.
CalPERS Health Panel Mulls Ending HMO Plan in Rural Counties
Blue Shield of California is making its case to CalPERS for the proposal on the potential to save big money elsewhere, arguing that pulling out of four rural counties could drop premiums by more than $30 million annually for other HMO members statewide. Sacramento Bee.
Report Says Medicare, Beneficiaries Facing Higher Drug Prices
The cost of the Medicare drug benefit might increase as insurers win smaller rebates from pharmaceutical firms, according to research by a House panel. Representatives for drug makers and insurers say the report skews data on a small number of medications. Washington Post.
Newspaper Analysis Challenges Quality of Veterans’ Health Care
The analysis suggests that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system might not be the model that some made it out to be. Data show that officials overstated information about patient satisfaction, access to services and quality. McClatchy/Raleigh News & Observer.
Lawmakers, Businesses Line Up Behind Health Care Reform
Gov. Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders agree that California’s health care system needs to be reworked, but Republican legislators are resisting calls from the governor and Democrats for mandatory employer contributions. Contra Costa Times et al.
Public Insurance for Kids Discourages Other Coverage, Report Says
Expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program would pull in some children who had private health insurance coverage, a government report says. The U.S. senators who requested the research disagreed on its implications. CQ Today, CongressDaily.
Blue Cross Reaches Deal in Lawsuit Over Policy Cancellations
The insurer agreed only to cancel individual policies if there was willful misrepresentation on an application, not if errors or inconsistencies were unintentional. The proposed settlement could have major implications for all insurers in the state. Los Angeles Times.
Drug Industry Contributes to Supporters of FDA Bill
Provisions of the legislation that would have increased the agency’s authority over drug makers were scaled back, in some cases because of efforts backed by senators who had received millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. USA Today et al.