Latest California Healthline Stories
Language Barriers Could Affect Care
More than one million California HMO members in 2003 said they had limited or no English language skills, which could result in lower quality health care, a study found. Los Angeles Times.
Kaiser Permanente To Close Kidney Program
Kaiser Permanente announced plans to suspend operations at its kidney transplant program after problems that might have affected patient care were recently disclosed. Sacramento Bee et al.
Health Clinics Opening in Retail Locations
About 100 of these clinics are operating throughout the U.S., with clinic operators planning to expand operations in coming years. New York Times.
FDA, GSK Warn Doctors of Paxil Risks
FDA and GlaxoSmithKline warn physicians that the antidepressant Paxil could increase risk for suicidal behavior in young adults. AP/Long Island Newsday.
Technology Contractors Focus on Health Care Operations
Companies are working on projects that include making improvements to the efficiency of Medicare and Medicaid systems, implementing electronic health record sharing systems and using computer models to detect and follow emerging health threats. Washington Post.
Stem Cell Agency Benefactor Donates to UCSF
The University of California-San Francisco will receive a $16 million donation to help fund a stem cell research center that could eventually seek state funding. San Francisco Chronicle, AP/San Francisco Examiner.
UnitedHealth Might Restate Earnings
UnitedHealth Group disclosed that problems related to stock options could require the restatement of financial results for three years. Wall Street Journal et al.
Schwarzenegger Unveils $131.1B Budget
The revised budget proposal allocates $22.8 million for children’s health insurance and $400 million to help hospitals and health agencies prepare for emergencies. Sacramento Bee et al.
Lawmakers Consider Waiving Penalty for Late Enrollment
Some Republican congressional leaders are considering legislation that would waive financial penalties for Medicare beneficiaries who sign up for the Medicare drug benefit after Monday’s enrollment deadline. Washington Post et al.
No Budget Agreement Reached in House
House GOP leaders removed the budget resolution from consideration after they did not reach an agreement on health care and education spending. CongressDaily, CQ HealthBeat.