Latest California Healthline Stories
DOJ Joins Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Price Inflation
The lawsuit alleges that a California-based subsidiary of Merck KGaA Dey inflated prices reported to Medicare and Medicaid by more than five times since at least January 1993. Boston Globe.
The medical community has raised concerns about increased use of retail clinics, but chain stores plan to open more than 5,000 such clinics in the next few years. Bloomberg/Washington Post.
Candidates Discuss Health Care in San Jose
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides and Cindy Chavez, who is running for San Jose mayor, spoke about health care with union members at a campaign event. San Jose Mercury News.
Large Number of CDC Employees Leaving Agency
Some CDC officials raise concerns about the large number of staff that has resigned or retired from the agency in the past two years. By the end of 2006, all but two of the directors of CDC’s eight primary scientific centers will have resigned. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Counties Move To Address Retiree Health Care Costs
Orange County officials are considering a plan to offer county retirees Medicare gap insurance rather than full benefits to reduce the county’s unfunded liability for health benefits. Meanwhile, San Diego County will use higher-than-expected returns on pension fund investments to fund retiree health care, cost-of-living increases and to pay down pension fund debt. Orange County Register, San Diego Union-Tribune.
Medicare Physician Reimbursements Under Consideration
Staff members of a House subcommittee have drafted proposals to reverse a scheduled reduction in Medicare physician reimbursements. The subcommittee will consider the proposals before adjourning this month. CongressDaily et al.
Remote Monitoring To Aid Chronic Disease Care
The technologies are designed to help manage patients’ conditions while reducing lengths of hospital stays and the number of physician visits. New York Times.
Debate Continues Between Tobacco Tax Supporters, Opponents
Tobacco companies and health care advocates accuse each other of trying to confuse voters about provisions of a measure on the November ballot to increase the state tobacco tax to fund health programs. Sacramento Bee.
Biomonitoring Bill Moves to Governor
Supporters of legislation to create a statewide biomonitoring program to test residents for potentially harmful chemicals in their body fluids say the bill likely will become law after Schwarzenegger staff members negotiated changes to the measure. San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Times.
Higher-Income Beneficiaries Face Medicare Payment Changes
A provision of the 2003 Medicare law calls for beneficiaries with higher incomes to pay a surcharge based on income on the standard Part B monthly premium. McClatchy/Sacramento Bee et al.