Latest California Healthline Stories
State Budget Could Include Funds for Biomedicine Research
Some advocates for low-income California residents said the proposal would reduce funds for health care programs and social services, while state officials highlighted potential economic benefits from the research funding. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Health Care-Related Bills Taking Effect, Others Introduced
Laws to mandate hospital charity care policies and create a prescription drug discount program are among those taking effect. At least 24 bills addressing health care already have been offered in the current legislative session. Sacramento Bee et al.
CMA Seeks To Join Suit Against Blue Cross of California
The California Medical Association alleges that the insurer’s cancellation of individual health insurance policies is illegal and routine. At least three other class-action suits have been filed on the matter. Los Angeles Times.
Workplace Discrimination at Issue for Diabetics
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says complaints related to workplace diabetes discrimination are increasing. Businesses can be hesitant or unwilling to hire people with diabetes because of the high cost of health care coverage and because of concerns about safety issues. New York Times.
Some Drug Plans Missed Deadline for Explaining Coverage Changes
About 250,000 beneficiaries were affected and will have until Feb. 15 to make changes to their drug plans. Reuters et al.
Births to Undocumented Immigrants Cost Medi-Cal $400M Annually
Services related to pregnancies account for the largest cost to Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants. Health care and immigrant rights groups say that about 12 other states offer similar benefits to undocumented immigrants. Los Angeles Times.
The Medical Board of California will undertake a nationwide search to replace Dave Thornton as executive director. Los Angeles Times.
Adult Children Face High Costs for Elder Care
Adult children with the highest expenses are those supervising care long distance, those who hire in-home help and those whose parents have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid. New York Times.
Health Care Interests Have Contributed More Than $4M to Governor
Some health care advocates raised questions about whether contributions from pharmaceutical companies, insurers and other health care interests will influence the governor’s health care reform proposal. Contributions from insurers and HMOs are among funds being used to provide additional compensation for aides who worked on the governor’s re-election campaign. MediaNews/Contra Costa Times, Los Angeles Times.
Health Care Issues High on Democratic Agenda for 2007
House Democratic leaders have said that within the first 100 hours of taking control of Congress, they will pass bills that would lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and authorize HHS to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies under the Medicare drug benefit. Washington Post et al.