Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Drug Plan Complaints To Be Disclosed
CMS will report complaints on a percentage basis relative to the total enrollment of Medicare prescription drug plans, according to an agency spokesperson. CQ HealthBeat.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Hospital News
JCAHO accredits Alta Bates Summit Medical Center after conditional approval; Monterey County officials consider options for Natividad Medical Center
Senator Questions Oversight of Transplant Programs
Sen. Chuck Grassley previously has asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the organ procurement and transplant system and determine whether federal agencies are able to provide effective oversight, citing specific instances at California hospitals. Los Angeles Times.
Blue Cross Colonoscopy Policy Debated
Opposing opinion pieces published in the San Francisco Chronicle debate a new Blue Cross of California policy that would provide physicians with financial incentives for patients to undergo medical tests in lower-cost settings. San Francisco Chronicle.
Average Health Care Costs Up in 2006
A new study estimates that a typical family of four will be responsible for about 38% of total annual medical costs in 2006, including $2,210 in out-of-pocket spending and $2,810 in payroll deductions. CQ HealthBeat, New York Daily News.