Latest California Healthline Stories
Differences in Treatment of Common Illnesses Limited
Differences in outcomes between community hospitals and academic medical centers appear less notable in treating common illnesses than in more serious conditions. New York Times.
Trevor Fetter is working to improve Tenet’s reputation and upgrade hospital facilities. Wall Street Journal.
Medicaid Payment Reduction Opposed
A bipartisan group of senators said the Bush administration should not act on proposals that would reduce Medicaid payments for providers. CQ HealthBeat, CongressDaily.
Grant Provides Transportation to Medical Appointments
A program that distributes funding for children’s health and education programs will provide nearly $1 million for Kings County resource centers. Fresno Bee.
Medicare Beneficiaries Reaching Coverage ‘Doughnut Hole’
Medicare beneficiaries reaching the gap in prescription drug coverage largely are middle-class seniors with multiple chronic conditions. Los Angeles Times.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the first on-time budget in six years but eliminated funding for trauma care and other health-related programs. Sacramento Bee et al.
Use of Citizen Petitions Questioned
Some groups are questioning whether brand-name pharmaceutical companies are using requests for FDA action on scientific and safety issues to prevent generic competition. Washington Post.
Health Access Plan Could Boost Newsom Career
The proposed universal health care access plan by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is still lacking in detail, but observers say it could provide a boon to the mayor’s political career if it succeeds. San Francisco Chronicle.
Children’s Health Program Enrollment Slowed
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s re-election campaign touts his record on children’s health care, but data show that Healthy Families and Medi-Cal enrollment increased at a higher rate under Gov. Gray Davis than under Schwarzenegger. Sacramento Bee.
Schwarzenegger Discusses Health Care Reform
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he is looking for new ideas on health care reform that would reduce costs for consumers and businesses alike. San Francisco Chronicle.