Latest California Healthline Stories
Genetic Tests Cause Changes in Diagnostics
New diagnostic tests are being seen as high-profit offerings marketed directly to patients and physicians, rather than to laboratories. New York Times.
Top Executives Receive Lifetime Health Benefits
A Wall Street Journal analysis of dozens of recent securities filings found that retired executives at many corporations are continuing to receive lifetime health coverage, despite the trend of reducing or eliminating health benefits for other retirees. Wall Street Journal.
Judge To Decide Doctors’ Roles in Executions
A federal judge in California will hear a case next month to determine whether medically trained personnel are needed to supervise an execution by lethal injection, a practice doctors say is unethical. New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle.
Massachusetts Governor Signs Health Care Bill
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) on Wednesday signed into law a bill that aims to expand health care coverage to nearly all of the state’s uninsured residents, but he vetoed several provisions, including a fee on certain businesses that do not provide health insurance. Wall Street Journal et al.
AARP Opposes Health Plan Legislation
The bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) would allow small businesses to form association health plans. AARP is opposing the legislation because the group believes that it could compromise the coverage of older workers. The Hill.
Opinions Address Stem Cell Institute Challenges
An editorial and an opinion piece criticize barriers to stem cell research development by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Contra Costa Times, Los Angeles Times.
‘California Report’ Series Examines Hospital Earthquake Preparedness
KQED’s “The California Report” in a two-part series this week examined hospital preparations to meet state seismic safety standards. Audio.
County Health Department Releases Deficit Reduction Plan
The Los Angeles County health department’s cost-reduction plan would standardize care at all county hospitals and use increased reimbursement rates and new state funds to close the department’s annual budget shortfall. Los Angeles Daily News.
Health Insurers’ Stock Prices Decrease
Analysts attribute the recent decrease to large investors who have sold their stock in heath insurers and have moved into higher-profit areas, such as commodities and energy. New York Times.
State Permit Delaying Hospital Compliance With Court Order
Kaiser Permanente said it is waiting for state approval to continue efforts to comply with a consent decree requiring its Oakland hospital to be more accessible to the disabled. Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times.