Latest California Healthline Stories
300,000 U.S. Children Diagnosed With Autism Annually
A CDC report finds that about one in every 175 children is diagnosed with autism and that boys are almost four times as likely as girls to receive an autism diagnosis. Los Angeles Times et al.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Hospital News
Fresno hospitals will not ask patients about residency status; Bond measure for new hospital in Sonoma Valley rejected
Restrictions on Doctor Prescribing Information Approved
The American Medical Association plans to allow physicians to restrict access to information about their prescription practices for pharmaceutical company sales representatives. New York Times.
Eligible Employees Not Enrolling in Health Plans
The percentage of U.S. employees eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance who decided to enroll decreased from 85.3% in 1998 to 80.3% in 2003. AP/Houston Chronicle et al.
Long-Term Care Hospitals Face Reimbursement Decrease
CMS said that Medicare reimbursements to long-term care hospitals will decrease by an estimated 3.7% in July, rather than 11% as previously proposed. CQ HealthBeat.
Bill Would Provide Tax Incentives for HSAs
Tax incentives would be provided for premium payments and contributions to health savings accounts and would include a credit of up to $3,000 for purchases by low-income families. CQ HealthBeat.
Asthma Cases Increase in Sonoma County
About one in five Sonoma County children has asthma, according to a pilot study. Santa Rose Press Democrat.
Federal Government Releases Pandemic Flu Plan
The document provides a list of actions federal departments must complete as a pandemic spreads; makes predictions about the effects of a pandemic; and makes recommendations for state and local governments and businesses. Los Angeles Times et al.
Report Criticizes Juvenile Detention System
Guards at Los Angeles County juvenile halls have kept inmates with mental illnesses in restraints for days at a time, and other problems remain within the system, according to a report by federal investigators. Los Angeles Times.