Latest California Healthline Stories
Legislature Sworn in, Health Care Reform Among Priorities
Senate and Assembly leaders cited health care reform efforts as priorities for the 2007-2008 legislative session, but Republican leaders could challenge some provisions. Before adjourning, legislators also introduced several health care-related bills. Los Angeles Times et al.
Fraudulent Press Release Says Kaiser CEO Resigning
The release said that George Halvorson immediately was leaving his post at Kaiser Permanente and named a company executive as his interim replacement. San Francisco Business Times.
Report: VA Mental Health Spending Slow
The Government Accountability Office found that the Department of Veterans Affairs had little or no way of tracking spending on new mental health initiatives from 2005 through 2006 and that some money might not have been used for mental health programs. USA Today.
U.S. Residents’ Health Levels Off
A report by the UnitedHealth Foundation found that the nation’s health has improved over the past 20 years but that improvements have slowed. The report rates each state based on 20 key measures of wellness, including rates of cancer, smoking, car accidents and high school graduation. Washington Times et al.
Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Might Have Access Issues
Pharmacists and advocates have raised concerns that Medicare beneficiaries who automatically received a subsidy to help cover their prescription drug costs this year will not discover the change in their status. New York Times.
Campaign Seeks To Reduce Stigma of Mental Illness
The federal government has launched a $1 million public service ad campaign that seeks to reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder. USA Today.
Pediatrician Group Issues New Recommendations on Ads, Sedation
The American Academy of Pediatricians releases a new policy that recommends restrictions on advertisements that target children. AP/Washington Times et al.
Kaiser Says EHR Program Moving Forward
The system has been implemented in medical clinics in six of eight Kaiser regions, but implementation will not be fully complete in California until late 2007 or early 2008, according to a Kaiser executive. San Francisco Business Times.
Health Providers React to CDC’s Routine HIV Testing Recommendations
The recommendations do not call for extra funding, causing medical providers to decide whether routine testing of low-risk patients is worth the additional costs. MediaNews/San Jose Mercury News.
Governor’s Plan Could Require Employer Contributions
Schwarzenegger said that his second-term goals for health care reform include reducing health care costs and extending coverage to the more than 6 million uninsured California residents. Sacramento Bee.