Latest California Healthline Stories
Commission Certifies Electronic Records Products
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology certified the first electronic health record products. USA Today, CQ HealthBeat.
Payment Changes Could Reduce Physician Medicare Participation
The president of the American Medical Association said 45% of members likely would decrease or stop accepting new Medicare beneficiaries and TRICARE members if Congress does not stop a decrease in Medicare payments. AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, CQ HealthBeat.
Expert Calls for More Price Transparency
A House subcommittee heard testimony calling for the federal government to establish an independent agency to make information on health care prices and quality more available. CQ HealthBeat.
Health Insurance Expansion, Higher Health Care Spending Linked
A researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said the expansion of health insurance has contributed significantly to increased health care spending in the U.S. CQ HealthBeat.
Senators Call for More Regulation of Medicare Drug Plans
A bipartisan group of senators this week asked CMS to promote efforts the senators say would encourage community pharmacies to participate in the Medicare prescription drug benefit and help improve access to medications. CQ HealthBeat.
UC Anticipates State Stem Cell Grants
A University of California official said UC campuses likely will receive funding from the voter-approved stem cell initiative on the same day that two consumer advocacy groups challenged stem cell patents that could affect such research funded by California’s stem cell institute. San Francisco Examiner et al.
Delay on Hospital Payment Proposal Expected
The CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association said he is “pretty confident” of “some form of delay to allow stakeholders to comment” on proposed changes to the Medicare hospital payment policy. Dow Jones, CongressDaily.
Undocumented Immigrants Affect Hospital Care
Hospitals in California, Texas and other border states must consider whether to ask patients for immigration documents in determining who should receive subsidized care. New York Times.
Architects To Recommend Private Hospital Rooms
The American Institute of Architects plans to recommend that private rooms become standard for U.S. hospitals. AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Health District To Hire Foreign Nurses
Valley Health System will hire about 50 Filipino nurses to reduce its reliance on temporary nurses. Riverside Press-Enterprise.