Latest California Healthline Stories
Report on Hospital Charity Care Released
Some not-for-profit hospitals routinely overcharge or deny care to low-income uninsured patients, a Senate Finance Committee report finds. Washington Post.
Striking Pharmacists Create Access Issues
Sacramento County pharmacies have been filling only emergency prescriptions since a strike began two weeks ago, creating a backlog of 8,000 medication refills. Sacramento Bee.
Stanford To Ban Drug Company Gifts
The policy will prohibit doctors from accepting free drug samples and from publishing articles in medical journals that are underwritten by drug companies. New York Times.
Drug Benefit Premiums Will Not Rise in 2007
CMS Administrator Mark McClellan said the 2007 average premium potentially could be up to one-third lower than the 2006 premium. CongressDaily et al.
The Children’s Health Access Partnership in Livermore helps low-income and immigrant families access medical care. Contra Costa Times.
Copayments Have Small Effect on Specialty Drug Usage
A study finds that higher copayments for specialty pharmacy medications reduce usage by only 1% to 21%, compared with 30% to 50% for higher copays on traditional treatments. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
House, Senate Have Yet To Reconcile IT Bills
As midterm elections approach, lawmakers have yet to resolve differences on issues such as funding, privacy, interoperability and the exemption of anti-kickback laws. CongressDaily.
Judge Could Rule in Nursing Home Inspection Case
Nursing home advocates allege the Department of Health Services illegally delays investigations of complaints at nursing homes, but state health officials say there currently are not enough inspectors to promptly investigate each claim. San Jose Mercury News.
Commission Tours County Health Facilities
Members of an independent state oversight agency toured several Contra Costa County health care facilities and held a community forum to discuss ways to close gaps in health care. Contra Costa Times.
Religious Group Advocates for Tobacco Tax
The Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community will take its grassroots campaign to San Francisco, calling on voters to approve the tobacco tax measure on November’s ballot, which would fund health programs. Contra Costa Times.