Latest California Healthline Stories
The not-for-profit wing of the California Medical Association will provide online tool kits to physicians to help them discuss human papillomavirus and a vaccine for the disease with patients. The vaccine is approved for women ages nine to 26. Sacramento Bee, Washington Post.
NAACP Criticizes Medicare Coverage Policy for BiDil
The NAACP says that generic substitutes for BiDil are not equivalent because they require patients to take many more pills and to split some pills to obtain the correct dose. BiDil is the only drug approved by FDA for use in a single race. Wall Street Journal.
Television Advertisements Tout Perata Health Care Plan
A campaign committee controlled by Senate President Pro Tempore Perata is funding a campaign to highlight his health care proposal. The plan calls for employer and worker contributions and for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families to be expanded. Oakland Tribune, Capitol Weekly.
Report Questions Government’s Refusal of Medicare Subsidies
The Office of Personnel Management decided that the federal government should not receive subsidies for maintaining retiree drug coverage, but a report said the subsidies would have led to a smaller premium increase for the federal employees health plan. Washington Post.
Proposal Calls for Lower Payments to Medicare Advantage Plans
Some health care policy analysts said that Democrats from rural states would oppose Calif. Rep. Stark’s proposed reduction in payments to Medicare Advantage plans, and some advocates are concerned about implications for low-income beneficiaries. CongressDaily, CQ HealthBeat.
FDA Conflict-of-Interest Issues To Be Investigated
FDA awarded a no-bid contract to a company that has paid consulting fees and salary to the husband of a senior agency official. A House committee will investigate a related FDA internal affairs investigation that closed in 2005 without any disciplinary action. Los Angeles Times.
County, Physicians Settle Benefits Dispute
Before joining a union, Los Angeles County physicians’ benefits packages provided for a payment amounting to as much as 19% of their salaries for health insurance, vacation and sick leave. County rules required the physicians to enroll in benefits packages received by other unionized workers. Los Angeles Times.
Bush Promotes Health Insurance Tax Change
President Bush began his speech by addressing domestic issues including health care. He called for changes to the tax code to promote health insurance coverage, state-based health reform, incentives for health savings accounts and greater use of information technology in medicine. The Democratic response did not address the president’s health care proposals. New York Times et al.
Bayer Settles With 30 States Over Baycol
California is among the states settling with Bayer over its cholesterol treatment Baycol. The drug company has not admitted any wrongdoing in the case. AP/Winston-Salem Journal et al.
California Groups Criticize President’s Health Care Plan
Some hospital officials are concerned that President Bush’s health care proposal would jeopardize safety-net hospitals that treat uninsured and low-income patients. It is unclear how the President’s plan would affect Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal. Fresno Bee, Sacramento Bee.