Latest California Healthline Stories
Catholic Healthcare West Settlement Opposed
An advocacy group for Latino health care consumers is challenging a settlement between uninsured patients and Catholic Healthcare West because the group says it excludes patients living in certain areas. Sacramento Bee.
Kidney Patient Transfers Delayed
Regulators say complications involving standardized medical records and other issues resulted in delayed patients transfers from Kaiser Permanente’s kidney transplant program to programs at university hospitals. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Blue Shield Makes Bid for UnitedHealthcare Members
Blue Shield of California is trying to attract employers in the Bay Area who formerly provided health insurance through UnitedHealthcare, which some doctors are declining to accept. San Jose Mercury News.
House GOP Leaders Delay Vote on Appropriations Bill
A delay on a vote on the Labor-HHS-Education appropriation bill is contributing to speculation that Congress will not vote on the measure until after the November election. CongressDaily, CQ Today.
Senate Blocks TRICARE Copay Increase
The amendment would block a proposed increase in copayments for TRICARE members who purchase prescription drugs at retail pharmacies. CQ Today.
State Will Miss Budget Deadline
Democratic and Republican lawmakers disagree on language included in the state budget that some Republican legislators say would extend health insurance benefits to undocumented immigrant children. Sacramento Bee et al.
Part-Time City Workers Eligible for Health Benefits
A plan announced by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom would cost $4.5 million over three year to provide health coverage for as many as 1,500 part-time union workers. San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle.
Legislation Would Increase Medicare Payments
The bill that would create or increase some Medicare payments to rural hospitals and make a series of changes to guidelines for community clinics, ambulances, nursing homes and home heath care providers in rural areas. Billings Gazette.