Latest California Healthline Stories
Draft Guidelines Address ‘Home-Brew Testing’
FDA released draft guidelines for the regulation of one category of complex diagnostic tests called “multivariate index assays.” New York Times et al.
County Workers Strike Over Health Benefits
Sacramento County workers joined a strike Tuesday to protest the county’s offer to increase health benefits cost-sharing. Sacramento Bee.
McClellan Resignation Leaves Vacancy in Administration
A replacement for CMS Administrator Mark McClellan has not been named, but at least three potential nominees reportedly are under consideration. Washington Post et al.
Many Medical Residents Work More Than Allowed
About 84% of first-year residents and residents at nine in 10 hospitals at some point violate rules governing how many hours they can work. Boston Globe et al.
Orange County Hospital Adopts EHR System
Saddleback Memorial hospital has transitioned to paperless health information system in an effort to reduce errors and improve care. Orange County Register.
Schwarzenegger: ‘Cannot Support’ Single-Payer Bill
Gov. Schwarzenegger announced he will veto legislation to create a single-payer health care system because it would create a “vast new bureaucracy” that would be “a serious and expensive mistake.” Los Angeles Times et al.
CMS Administrator Mark McClellan said he likely will take a position with a think tank where he could focus on health care reform. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
MDs Receive Minor Punishments for Certain Crimes
More than two-thirds of physicians who committed Medicare, Medicaid and insurance fraud received minor punishments from state and federal medical boards, a study found. USA Today.
County Retiree Health Benefit Faces Cuts
Lower-than-expected returns on Stanislaus County pension fund investments could result in cuts to a health benefits program that provides retired county workers with a monthly health stipend. Modesto Bee.
Health Care Priority for Small Business Coalition
The California chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business supports a combination of health savings accounts and association health plans to address increasing health insurance costs, but opposes a measure approved by the Legislature that would create a single-payer health care system. Contra Costa Times.