Latest California Healthline Stories
Democratic Priorities Include Medicare, Stem Cell Legislation
Congressional Democrats are expected to pursue legislation to modify the Medicare prescription drug benefit and increase federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. NPR.
Fewer Problems With Medicare Drug Plans Reported
A health care advocate attributed the decrease in reports of problems with the Medicare drug benefit in part to new rules that require health insurers to provide beneficiaries with a 30-day supply of medications previously covered. USA Today.
Democrats Should Encourage Public-Private Competition
Columnist Paul Krugman writes that Democrats should “force Medicare to offer direct drug coverage that competes on a financially fair basis with the private plans,” rather than simply require HHS to negotiate drug prices. New York Times.
Fewer Nursing Homes Operating in Some Areas
Residential care facilities operate more beds in California than in free-standing nursing homes. State regulation of the two types of care facilities differs, and one foundation analyst said quality information is less readily available for residential care facilities. San Mateo County Times.
Unpaid Bills Will Detract From Hospital Earnings
Analysts say that hospital profit will be affected by increasing numbers of uninsured patients. Tennessean.
Drug Benefit Enrollment Smoother in Second Year
Representatives of CMS and health care advocacy groups say there are fewer problems with the Medicare drug benefit in 2007 than there were last year, but pharmacists told some advocates that it is too early to assess the situation. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Democrats Will Introduce Medicare, Stem Cell Legislation
Proposed legislation would require the HHS secretary to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications with “outlandish” costs but would bar the HHS secretary from restricting access to certain medications for Medicare beneficiaries. Washington Post et al.
Editorial Criticizes Commission To Examine Retiree Health, Pension Benefits
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s commission to examine strategies to address the cost of health benefits and pensions for public retirees likely “will be dominated by union members and Democrats who will resist any serious reform,” according to an editorial. Orange County Register.
Reducing Uninsured a Top Priority for California Residents
A Field Poll found that the majority of California voters preferred employer-sponsored coverage to a state-run, single-payer system. Respondents also said state officials should focus on reducing the uninsured. MediaNews/San Jose Mercury News et al.