Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Beneficiaries Affected by Changes for 2007
Residents on Medicare and Medi-Cal might be affected when four plans are no longer available next year. San Francisco Chronicle.
Local Groups To Address Health Problems
Asthma, diabetes and obesity rates in East Palo Alto are among the highest in San Mateo County, according to county health officials.
U.S. Health Care System Failing
Health care spending in the U.S. might “be buying us the best amenities in medical care — but not the best health,” John Abramson, a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, writes. Los Angeles Times.
Business, Insurers Recommend Health Care Abroad
A West Virginia legislator plans to propose legislation that would offer state employees the option of traveling abroad for their procedures to help control health care costs. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Field Poll: Voters Appear Split on Health Measures
Support for Proposition 86, a measure to increase the state tobacco tax to fund health programs and services, has “dropped sharply since September.” Support for Proposition 85 has increased slightly since July. San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
Pharmacy Chain CVS To Purchase PBM Caremark Rx for $21.3B in Stock
CVS will acquire Caremark Rx for about $21.3 billion in stock. Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
Auditor: State Panel’s Commercials Did Not Violate Law
State legislators in March requested the audit after questions arose over the California First 5 Commission funding commercials discussing the merits of preschool while the panel’s chair worked to qualify a measure on the subject for the June 2006 ballot. Sacramento Bee et al.
Audit: Corrections Department Overpaid Contractors
Contractors the state hired to provide drug treatment services to California parolees and state officials are to blame for the overpayment, according to the audit. AP/Modesto Bee, Contra Costa Times.
Drew University Plans to Close Residency Program
The school last week was given a January deadline to provide a stable residency program or its accreditation would be revoked. Its affiliate hospital — Martin Luther King Jr./Drew University Medical Center — recently failed a federal inspection and will lose its Medicare funding. Los Angeles Times.
Hospital Tracks Infants Using Identification Chips
The computerized system can alert medical staff if an infant has been moved from the maternity area. Riverside Press-Enterprise.