Latest California Healthline Stories
Nevada Reimportation Program Operating
The four Canadian online pharmacies licensed to sell prescription drugs to Nevada residents each received an average of 30 telephone calls daily in the first month. Las Vegas Sun.
Health Care IT Legislation Under Consideration
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health plans mark up a bill that would promote the use of health care information technology and establish national standards on privacy and implementation of electronic health records. CQ Today et al.
CMS Could Cut Funds to Kaiser Kidney Program
Kaiser Permanente could lose federal funding for treatment of all Medicare patients with end-stage renal disease if deficiencies cited in a federal report are not corrected by mid-month. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Personal Injury Provision Would Benefit Insurers
A provision in a pension bill under consideration could expand the ability of health insurers to obtain shares of settlements and judgments that employees receive in personal injury lawsuits. Wall Street Journal.
Subcommittee Approves HHS Appropriations Bill
A House subcommittee voted to approve the fiscal year 2007 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill with $141.9 billion in discretionary funds. CQ Today, CongressDaily.
Medicare Advantage Plans Cost More Than Fee-for-Service Program
Payments to Medicare Advantage plans on average are 11% higher than payments to Medicare fee-for-service program costs among similar groups of beneficiaries. CQ HealthBeat, Rep. Pete Stark release.
Medicare Legislation Could Face Easier Passage
Election-year pressures might allow passage of bills to waive penalties for those who missed the Medicare prescription drug benefit enrollment deadline. CongressDaily, Washington Times.
Spending Measures Could Face More Difficulty
Political analysts question whether spending measures on the November ballot could have a more difficult time winning voter support, citing voters’ rejection of spending measures on the June ballot. Los Angeles Times.
Nursing Shortage Persists in San Mateo County
San Mateo County does not have an adequate number of nurses in part because of a high cost of living and a low number of nursing school graduates in the area. San Francisco Examiner.
Appointments to Health-Related Boards Announced
Gov. Schwarzenegger announced appointments to the Department of Aging and the Health Policy and Data Advisory Commission. Office of the Governor.