Latest California Healthline Stories
Court OKs Police Access to Hospitalized Crime Victims
A Louisiana hospital official invoked federal medical privacy rules in barring police access to a hospitalized patient, but a federal court ruled that the law does not block the collection of information by police about crimes. AP/Dayton Daily News.
Counties File Claim Seeking $2.4B in Backpay From Medicare
Five California counties say counties nationwide are incorrectly classified as rural, presuming that costs of living there are lower than in counties classified as urban, where physicians are reimbursed at higher rates. County officials said the payment disparity pushes physicians to stop participating in Medicare. San Diego Union-Tribune, Sacramento Bee.
Aging Workers Finding Jobs in Health Care Industry
Shortages of health care personnel have pushed organizations such as Scripps Health in San Diego to create programs to retain workers of retirement age. A new study finds that more people are staying in the work force after age 55. Los Angeles Times.
Nurses’ Union Stumps for Single-Payer Health System
The California Nurses Association says Gov. Schwarzenegger’s plan to overhaul the health care system would push residents to enroll in plans with limited benefits and high deductibles. The governor’s office says his plan would control health care costs and premiums. Fresno Bee.
Programs Seek Out Homeless for Health Care Services
One of the goals of the Santa Monica street medicine team is to encourage homeless people in need of further medical attention to visit a clinic, where physicians hope the patients will take advantage of other services such as rehab and counseling. Los Angeles Times.
States Look to Model Law To Clear Up Organ Donor Rules
At least 25 states have taken action on a proposal that would make states’ rules on organ donation more consistent and establish protocols for how to proceed with organ harvesting when documents conflict. Washington Post.
Insurer CEO Pitches Health Care Reform in U.S. Tour
Humana’s CEO is calling for making cost and quality information on health care providers more accessible to consumers and is pushing greater use of computers in health care, among other strategies to rework the U.S. health care system. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Medi-Cal Benefits for HIV-Positive People Spark Suit
Advocates for people with HIV are faulting Gov. Schwarzenegger’s administration for not implementing a law to expand Medi-Cal benefits, but state officials say provisions of the law bar the program from being launched under current circumstances. Los Angeles Times.
California, Feds Face Off Over Proof-of-Citizenship Rules
The federal government wants California to verify the citizenship of people seeking no-cost birth control through a state family planning program, but state officials are questioning the policy, saying that it would drive up costs by $290 million per year. Sacramento Bee.
WellPoint Linking Annual Bonus Payments to Members’ Health
Blue Cross of California’s parent company has announced a plan to tie its employees’ bonuses in part to health plan members’ use of preventive care and prescribed medications. WellPoint is the nation’s second-largest insurer. Indianapolis Star, Los Angeles Times.