Latest California Healthline Stories
Open Enrollment Begins for Medicare Drug Benefit
Some health care advocates have said that many beneficiaries might want to consider changing prescription drug plans because of changes in price and coverage. New York Times.
Lawyers Seek Population Cap on Prison System
Lawyers said that a population cap would solve the overcrowding problem, which some advocates say has been preventing the state from focusing on solutions to improve health care services to inmates. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
San Francisco Health Access Plan Challenged
The ordinance is scheduled to take effect in July 2007 and is intended to provide access to health care to uninsured San Francisco residents. The cost of the plan is expected to be $200 million annually. New York Times et al.
Leavitt Reiterates Opposition to Drug Price Negotiations
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said calls for Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices is “a surrogate for a much larger issue, which is really government-run health care.” AP/Washington Post et al.
Insurers Propose Health Care Coverage Expansion
The proposal recommends the establishment of tax-free universal health accounts and calls for the federal government to match contributions to the accounts for some residents, New York Times et al.
Many Hospitals Do Not Meet Angioplasty Guidelines
A new study will help launch a new campaign that will seek to help hospitals improve emergency care for heart attack patients.
New State Regulations Will Restrict Policy Cancellations
Insurers say that it is legal to cancel an individual’s policy regardless of whether medical history omissions on applications for coverage are intentional. Los Angeles Times.
Automakers To Meet With Bush on Health Care Costs
The CEOs of the Big Three U.S. automakers likely will ask the Bush administration and Congress to take action to address health care costs, rather than seek a bailout. AP/Washington Times, USA Today.
Health Care Panel Recommends Standard IV Procedure
The task force was created last year by nurses and drug experts from San Diego County hospitals in response to a nationwide concern over dosage errors that occur at least 400,000 times annually. The panel recommends standardizing concentrations and drip rates for 34 IV drugs. San Diego Union-Tribune.
UC Regents Consider Health Care Expansions
The plan seeks to reverse the state’s growing shortage of doctors, nurses and other health care providers. According to the proposal, there will be a shortage of up to 17,000 doctors in California by 2015. San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times.