Latest California Healthline Stories
Oakland Mayor-Elect Considers Health Access Plan
The difference in government structure between San Francisco and Oakland would account for part of the difference in challenges that the two cities would face in enacting universal health access programs. San Francisco Chronicle.
Medicare Customer Service Guidelines Not Enforced
Federal officials say many of the insurers who sponsor Medicare drug plans have referred beneficiaries to the Medicare help line when they call with complaints, instead of providing help themselves. New York Times.
States Work To Expand Health Insurance Coverage
States have moved to address the uninsured with efforts to implement universal health insurance systems, public-private insurance partnerships and Medicaid revisions. Los Angeles Times.
Employer Health Insurance Mandate Would Hurt Small Businesses, Report Says
Requiring businesses to contribute to worker health insurance would result in increased costs to consumers, the loss of jobs and business closures, according to a San Francisco controller’s report. San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle.
CMS Report Finds Widespread Problems at Kaiser Kidney Program
Kaiser Permanente remains out of compliance in three areas related to its kidney transplant program in San Francisco, and the HMO could lose federal funding for kidney disease treatment unless corrections are made. Los Angeles Times et al.
Medicare Beneficiaries Experience Complications With Cardiac Devices
Complications from implantable cardioverter defibrillators annually add $70 million to $75 million in costs for Medicare and private health insurers. USA Today.
Buffett Announces Donation to Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation has an endowment of $29 billion and has spent more than $10 billion, much of it on programs to fight HIV/AIDS and other global health concerns. Wall Street Journal et al.
Personal Attendant Overtime Bill Criticized
Legislation that would make personal attendants eligible for overtime could result in cost increases that would push the industry further underground, critics say. Personal attendants provide some health care services to children, seniors or people with disabilities. Sacramento Bee.
Proposed Housing for Mentally Ill Might Be Relocated
Developers of a proposed housing unit for people with mental illnesses might have to build the center elsewhere or include services for low-income families after neighborhood residents complained about the plan. Los Angeles Times.