Latest California Healthline Stories
Genetic Test Predicts Benefits of Chemotherapy
A new genetic test can predict with up to 90% accuracy which early stage lung cancer patients are likely to experience recurrence and would benefit from chemotherapy. Wall Street Journal et al.
Sacramento Considers Needle Exchange Program
The Sacramento City Council has called for a study on the feasibility of funding a needle exchange program and for a draft ordinance to create such a program. Sacramento Bee.
Insurers, Providers Address Health Care Price Transparency
To help consumers assess health care costs, Medicare has begun disclosing what it pays for 30 commonly performed hospital procedures, and 32 states have passed laws that require hospitals to release charge information for various procedures. Chicago Tribune.
Orange County Looks To Reduce Retiree Health Care Costs
Higher medical costs and a growing population of retired workers have contributed to a $1.4 billion unfunded health care liability for Orange County. Los Angeles Times.
CMS Proposes 5.1% Cut in Medicare Physician Payments
Bush administration officials said the reduction is necessary to offset faster-than-expected increases in Medicare spending for physician services. New York Times et al.
Dentists, Hygienists Square Off Over Legislation
California dentists, dental hygienists and assistants disagree on three dental industry-related bills, including one that would allow some hygienists to care for patients outside a dentist’s office without a prescription from a dentist or doctor. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Number of Uninsured Children Declines
The percentage of children without health insurance decreased by more than 20% from 1997 to 2004, according to a report. AP/Philadelphia Inquirer.
Federal Funding Rules Complicate Stem Cell Research
Universities’ federal research funding could be cut and other penalties could ensue if scientists experimenting with both federally approved and unapproved stem cell lines do not keep work on the lines completely separate. Los Angeles Times.
Long-Term Care Plans Difficult To Understand
A study calls for the standardization of long-term care insurance policies, which some advocates say can be costly and complex. Oakland Tribune.
IBM To Announce Interoperable EHR Software
Technology developed at IBM’s San Jose Research Center could lead to the development of an interoperable health information exchange and allow for an electronic health records network that is similar to the Internet, officials say. Oakland Tribune.