Latest California Healthline Stories
Gingrich Proposes Health Care Reform Strategies
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for greater collaboration among businesses and health care providers to develop advances in the health care system, among other proposals. Detroit Free Press.
Health Net Acquires Universal Care Health Plans
The acquisition of Universal Care’s health plan assets will increase Health Net’s membership by more than 100,000. Los Angeles Daily News, Dow Jones.
Church Programs Target Obesity
Nutrition and exercise programs at black churches aim to reduce obesity in a population at high risk for developing obesity-related diseases. Los Angeles Times.
Children’s Program Marks Five Years in Fresno County
First 5 Fresno County, which funds children’s health care and education programs, has provided services to more than 100,000 children and families since the program began five years ago. Fresno Bee.
Payment Increases to Medicare Advantage Plans Lower
Reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage plans in 2007 will increase by less than the scheduled percentage because of a technical adjustment of how physicians code beneficiaries for billing. CQ HealthBeat.
Internet Used To Promote Sexual Health
Health care officials in San Francisco and Los Angeles are using the Internet to promote testing for sexually transmitted infections, provide counseling and to help people notify partners about their infections. Los Angeles Times.
Appointments for Medicare, Social Security Trustees at ‘Impasse’
The annual financial reports for Medicare and Social Security will be delayed because the Senate has not held a confirmation hearing for President Bush’s appointees. New York Times.
Medicare Drug Benefit Insurers Limited for 2007
Private health insurers that sponsor Medicare prescription drug plans can offer no more than two plans next year, CMS says. Wall Street Journal, et al.
Court To Decide on Privacy, Liability in HIV Infection
The state Supreme Court will decide to what extent people must disclose past high-risk sexual behavior and whether people who do not know they are HIV-positive can be liable for infecting a partner. San Francisco Chronicle.
Number of House Calls Increasing
More Medicare beneficiaries are receiving house calls since Medicare increased phyisician payments for the service and Medicare launched demonstration projects to measure house calls’ efficacy. USA Today.