Latest California Healthline Stories
Agreement in Hospital Billing Dispute Approved
Catholic Healthcare West will provide the same level of discounts or refunds regardless of income to uninsured patients who have been treated at CHW facilities since 2001. Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Business Journal.
HMOs have made improvements in treating diabetes and hypertension, but follow-up mental health care and breast cancer screenings have declined, according to the state HMO report card. Contra Costa Times et al.
Most Uninsured Children Have One Working Parent
A new study finds that uninsured children are less likely to have a primary source of health care and often have fewer doctor visits compared with insured children. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Billings Gazette.
New Diabetes Treatment Has Limited Benefits
About 86% of participants required insulin injections after two years of receiving islet cell infusions, a treatment that initially appears to reverse severe type 1 diabetes in some patients. New York Times et al.
Scientists Form Group To Enter Political Debate
Organizers of Scientists and Engineers for America said it would be a nonpartisan organization, but several members said SEA was created out of concern over Bush administration policies on stem cell research, over-the-counter sale of emergency contraception and other issues. New York Times, Cox/Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Overcrowding in EDs Raises Readiness Concerns
Emergency departments in metropolitan areas have wait times two to three times longer than those in nonmetropolitan areas and nurse vacancy rates that exceed 5%, according to a CDC study. Washington Post et al.
Garamendi Raises Health Care Issues in Campaign
In the campaign for lieutenant governor, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi faulted Sen. Tom McClintock for opposing measures on children’s health insurance and prescription drug discounts. Oakland Tribune.
Opponents Lead Spending on Parental Notification Measure
Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have contributed about $2.3 million to the campaign against a ballot measure that would require parental notification before an abortion in some cases, while newspaper publisher James Holman has lent about $2.2 million to the campaign in favor of the initiative. Orange County Register.
Future of King/Drew Medical Center Considered
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is continuing discussions on how to proceed after the hospital loses federal funding, and the Department of Health Services and other entities are developing plans for patient care and medical education. Los Angeles Times.
States Take the Lead in EHR Implementation
State-level IT programs are focusing on electronic health record adoption, but most states are months or years away from implementation. New York Times.