Latest California Healthline Stories
A Fresno County mobile dental clinic that treats about 800 children annually will be closed and replaced by a program that aims to enroll more children in health plans. Fresno Bee.
Counties Await Instructions on HIV Reporting
The Department of Health Services plans to release guidelines within a year on how counties should implement a names-based reporting system for new HIV cases. Bakersfield Californian.
California Medical Association CEO Jack Lewin in November will take over as CEO of the American College of Cardiology. Sacramento Bee.
Web Sites Offer Access to Lab Tests
Several Web sites are offering consumers the chance to order the same diagnostic tests they might obtain at walk-in laboratories, hospitals and clinics. Wall Street Journal.
Physician Claims Dismissed in Class-Action Suit
The lawsuit alleged that UnitedHealth Group, Coventry Health Care and other health insurers delayed or denied reimbursements for medical services and illegally rejected claims for necessary services as part of a racketeering conspiracy. Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald.
Bill Would Link Spending to Deficit Reduction
The legislation would establish a commission with special legislative authority to study proposals to reduce spending growth for entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and a second commission to identify federal programs to eliminate. CQ Today.
Medicare Will Promote Preventive Care
CMS this summer plans to launch a campaign that will encourage Medicare beneficiaries to use preventive services to reduce costs. Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune.
Action on Health Care Costs Included in Democrats’ Platform
Democrats promise to address health care costs and other domestic issues in their platform for the November midterm elections. New York Times et al.
Contributions to Democrats Increase
Health insurers and pharmaceutical companies are among the companies that have increased their campaign contributions to Democrats this year, possibly an indication that they are “starting to hedge their political bets after a decade of supporting congressional Republicans.” Wall Street Journal.
County Hospitals Have Not Begun Seismic Retrofit
Many hospitals in Ventura County are seeking deadline extensions for complying with seismic safety standards, citing increasing construction costs. Ventura County Star.