Latest California Healthline Stories
Disability Rates Higher Among Low-Income People
U.S. residents ages 55 to 64 with annual incomes less than the federal poverty level were six times more likely to have disabilities that limited physical activities than higher-income people. Bloomberg/Dallas Morning News et al.
Clinic Could See Patient Influx
Sacramento County supervisors this month will vote on a measure that would ban undocumented immigrants from receiving nonemergency medical care, which could lead to an influx of patients seeking care at no-cost health clinics. Sacramento Bee.
National Mammogram Capacity Adequate
The mammography capacity nationwide is adequate, but area shortages might cause access problems for some women, a report finds. CQ HealthBeat, Los Angeles Times.
Institute’s Recommendations Improve Patient Care
Hospital officials at Mercy Medical Center-Merced say a campaign to stop preventable hospital infections and deaths is working at the hospital, particularly for patients at risk for developing ventilator-associated pneumonia. Merced Sun-Star.
Doctors Accept Fewer Medicaid Beneficiaries
Fewer physicians accept Medicaid beneficiaries as new patients, in part because of reimbursement and administrative issues, a study finds. AP/Long Island Newsday.
Program Cuts Expected at Cancer Institute
The new National Cancer Institute director says that the agency likely will have to eliminate some programs because of budgetary issues. New York Times.
Health Care Costs an Obstacle for Middle-Income Families
Middle-income families say they had a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem paying their medical bills over the past two years. AP/Long Island Newsday.
Lower Drug Plan Premiums Expected in 2007
Competition among health insurers and a large marketplace likely will result in Medicare prescription drug plan premiums that are lower than the national average. San Francisco Chronicle.
Newspapers Address Fine for Kaiser Transplant Program
Editorial boards this week criticized Kaiser Permanente’s management of its Northern California kidney transplant program and considered what steps the HMO should take to address members’ concerns. Contra Costa Times et al.
Schwarzenegger, Garamendi Call for State Fund Regulations
Imposing regulations on State Compensation Insurance Fund is “vital” for the workers’ compensation market, and such regulations should be approved this legislative session, Gov. Schwarzenegger and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi write in a letter to lawmakers.