Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate To Begin Debate, Vote on Stem Cell Legislation
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced that the Senate will take up the bills on Monday. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
WHO To Call for Worldwide Smoking Bans
A California study linking breast cancer and secondhand smoke will be the scientific basis for World Health Organization recommendations to ban smoking in public places worldwide. USA Today.
Quality, Costs Addressed at Medicaid Commission Meeting
Institute for Healthcare Improvement President Donald Berwick said improving health care quality likely is the best way to reduce Medicaid spending. CQ HealthBeat.
7M Medicare Beneficiaries Will Reach ‘Doughnut Hole’
A report by two advocacy groups estimates that the average Medicare beneficiary will reach the doughnut hole on Sept. 22. Newark Star-Ledger, Bergen Record.
CalPERS alleges in a lawsuit that UnitedHealth procedures for granting stock options led to more than $20 million in losses for the pension fund. Sacramento Bee.
Agreement Reached on Physician Overpayments
A disputed physician payment system at Kern Medical Center will be phased out over two months amid concerns that physicians were overpaid hundred of thousands of dollars. Bakersfield Californian.
Amendment Would Prevent Medication Seizures
The Senate approved an amendment that would bar the U.S. Customs and Border Protection from seizing prescription drugs purchased from Canadian pharmacies by U.S. residents. Los Angeles Times et al.
Medicare Part B Premiums To Increase
Monthly premiums for the Medicare benefit covering physician visits and outpatient hospital services will increase by about 11.2% next year, according to the Bush administration. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer et al.
County Bioterrorism Preparedness Efforts Improve
CDC officials said Los Angeles County is taking many of the right steps to prepare for a potential bioterrorist attack but must do a better job of justifying some spending. Los Angeles Times.
HIV Education Services Contract Renewed
Merced County supervisors approved a $40,000 contract with a Planned Parenthood clinic to provide HIV education services, despite some residents’ concerns that the money will be used to fund abortions. Merced Sun-Star.