Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Proposals Likely To Be Taken Up
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist next month would like to win approval for health care information technology legislation. Meanwhile, President Bush will host a meeting on hospital price transparency. Congress Daily, St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments
Gov. Schwarzenegger made several appointments to the California Commission on Aging and the state pharmacy board. Office of the Governor.
Nursing Home Chain Settles Fraud Accusations
Beverly Enterprises will pay $20 million to California and federal agencies to settle allegations that it fraudulently billed Medicare and Medi-Cal for medical equipment. Los Angeles Times.
Sacramento Officials Work To Maintain Purchasing Pool
A statewide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses announced its closure earlier this month, but Sacramento County officials are looking to replace the program. Sacramento Business Journal.
Health Care at Issue in CalPERS Race
CalPERS board candidates are discussing ways to reduce health care costs for the pension fund as members begin voting. Sacramento Bee.
New Ads Oppose Tobacco Tax Increase
Tobacco companies began airing advertisements this week that say hospitals will be exempt from antitrust laws under Proposition 86, but an analysis of the ad finds the ads’ claims are only partially true. Sacramento Bee.
Nursing Home Cited in Two Patient Deaths
Colonial HealthCare will appeal two AA citations and a $160,000 fine it received after a state investigation found inadequate care resulted in the deaths of two patients. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Health Care Among Retirement Concerns
Three articles address health care in a special section on retirement. Wall Street Journal.
FDA, MIT Partner To Detect Drug, Device Risks
FDA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology plan to develop a system to monitor potential problems with medications and medical devices. Long Island Newsday.