Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS Might Seek To Promote Health Care IT Through Regulation
Acting CMS Administrator Leslie Norwalk says that the agency might seek to promote health care information technology through regulatory action. CQ HealthBeat.
State Asked To Lift Mercury Ban for Flu Shots
Pediatricians this year received limited supply of a mercury-free flu vaccine, prompting calls for the state to lift a ban on vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal. Contra Costa Times.
Five Counties Act on Health Care-Related Issues
Plan approved to restore emergency services at Doctors Medical Center, Orange County Supervisors meeting considers sale of facilities. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Medicare Payments to Physicians Will Decrease 5% in 2007
CMS issues final rules, reducing Medicare physician payments by average of 5% in 2007 and adjusting payments to other providers. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer et al.
Video Interpretation Services Cut Cost, Speed Service to Patients
Several hospitals have begun to implement video language-interpretation services to ease communications with patients who do not speak English or those who use sign language. Wall Street Journal.
CDC To Add Gardasil to Subsidized Vaccine Program for Children
Merck says CDC plans to add the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil to the Vaccines for Children Program. AP/International Herald Tribune.
Fewer Medicare Drug Plans Offer ‘Meaningful’ Coverage in Doughnut Hole
Fewer states in 2007 will have drug plans that offer meaningful coverage during the Medicare drug benefit’s doughnut hole. Washington Post et al.
Medicare Billing Suits Dismissed
Erin Brockovich alleged that health care facilities had improperly billed Medicare for some services, but a judge ruled that Brockovich did not have standing to file the suit because she is not a Medicare beneficiary and did not experience damages in the matter. AP/San Francisco Examiner, San Diego Union-Tribune.
Group Plans To Issue Patient Safety Guidelines
The National Quality Forum’s guidelines could be included in pay-for-performance programs as a means of improving patient safety. Wall Street Journal.
CalPERS Seeks To Freeze Severance Package
A motion filed by CalPERS states that UnitedHealth Group CEO William McGuire “was personally involved in nearly every aspect” of an effort to backdate stock options. McGuire resigned earlier this month. Reuters/Los Angeles Times, St. Paul Pioneer Press.