Latest California Healthline Stories
Poizner To Evaluate Health Care Reform Proposals
California’s insurance commissioner plans to evaluate what would drive the cost of health care overhauls offered by Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democratic leaders, while also targeting insurance fraud and pushing for reforms to the office. Sacramento Bee.
Coverage Requirements Set for Massachusetts Plan
If the recommendations win final approval, state residents’ health plans would have to comply by January 2009. Massachusetts would be the first state in the U.S. to establish minimum health insurance standards. New York Times et al.
Santa Clara County Leads State in New TB Cases
After a decline in tuberculosis cases for several years, Santa Clara County experienced a jump in new infections, including two cases of drug-resistant TB that are of particular concern to public health officials. San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle.
Bush Health Care Plan Saves Less Than Others, Study Finds
Research from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that some legislative options would expand insurance coverage to more people and translate to greater health care savings than a plan President Bush rolled out in his State of the Union address. A proposal by California Rep. Pete Stark is among those the group compared to the Bush plan. New York Times et al.
Money for Health Programs Caught in War Funding Bills
Lawmakers included funds for veterans’ health care in appropriations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but President Bush has pledged to veto the efforts because of provisions on troop deployments. Washington Post et al.
NIH Chief Backs Wider Policy on Funding for Stem Cell Research
Elias Zerhouni said the U.S. would benefit from lifting President Bush’s federal funding restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research, a change in policy that the White House continues to oppose. Los Angeles Times et al.
Funding Efforts for Kids’ Insurance Compete for Support
At least four measures could take shape in Congress as lawmakers work to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program before it expires in September. Each of the proposals seeks more funds for the program than President Bush has requested. The Hill.
Physicians Seek To Block UnitedHealth Expansion
The American Medical Association says UnitedHealth’s proposed acquisition of a Nevada insurer would give it control of more than three-quarters of the state’s HMO market and 95% of the market in Las Vegas. Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times, AP/Hartford Courant.
Survey Findings Fuel Debate Over Workers’ Comp Reform
The lead investigator for the survey said quality of care has not substantially declined since the last survey in 1998, but an advocacy group for workers’ compensation attorneys cites findings of worker dissatisfaction with the system. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
PacifiCare Parent Company Under Fire From CMA
The California Medical Association wants the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance to investigate United Healthcare for alleged delays, underpayments and other errors on physicians’ contracts. San Francisco Business Times.