Latest California Healthline Stories
TRICARE Fee Increases Excluded From Spending Bill
The House approved the defense authorization bill, which does not include most of a proposal from President Bush to increase TRICARE fees. CQ Today.
About 40% of Malpractice Claims Groundless
Malpractice claims resulted in $449 million in verdicts and settlements, and groundless claims accounted for about 15% of that amount, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study. AP/Houston Chronicle, New England Journal of Medicine.
Candidates for Governor, Treasurer Discuss Health Care
Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly, Democratic gubernatorial candidates, discussed different health care reform proposals at a debate, while Republican treasurer candidate Keith Stuart Richman said he would use the state’s pension system to address health insurance costs. Sacramento Bee.
Biomonitoring Bill Back in Senate
For the third time, Sen. Deborah Ortiz introduced legislation to create a program that measures the amount of toxic chemicals in people’s bodies. San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times.
Poverty Guidelines Do Not Consider Housing Costs
The federal formula to determine poverty rates does not account for the cost of living, a situation that might result in reduced funding for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and other programs in California. Los Angeles Times et al.
Los Angeles County Outlier in Nationwide Syphilis Trends
Overall syphilis incidence among blacks decreased nationwide but that trend did not hold true in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles Times.
Kaiser Permanente Agrees to Patient Transfers
Kaiser Permanente has agreed to pay for members’ kidney transplants at two outside hospitals after problems with its program were found to have caused delays. San Jose Mercury News et al.
About 37M Medicare Beneficiaries Have Drug Coverage
More than one million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the new prescription drug benefit between late April and May 6, bringing the total number of beneficiaries with some form of prescription drug coverage to 37 million, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced. CQ HealthBeat et al.
BCBS of Massachusetts Expands Pay-for-Performance Program
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is doubling to $189 million the annual amount it spends on performance incentives for health care providers. Boston Globe.