Latest California Healthline Stories
Use of IM in Therapy, Patient Web Sites Increasing
Medical professionals increasingly are using instant messaging and Web sites to provide some health care services to patients. Wall Street Journal.
Assisted Suicide Bill Faces Opposition
Two lawmakers hope legislation to allow doctor-assisted suicide will be heard this spring by a Senate committee, but opponents of the bill say it could pressure disabled people into ending their lives. Sacramento Bee.
Elderly Care Benefits Insufficient for Caregivers
Benefits for baby boomers who care for elderly parents are often modeled after child care benefits, which do not take into consideration the different needs of the elderly. New York Times .
House Budget Resolution Might Include Spending Reductions for Entitlement Programs
The House Budget Committee this week plans to mark up the House fiscal year 2007 budget resolution, which likely will attempt to reduce spending for entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. CQ Today.
Therapists Say Insurance Reimbursements Are Too Low
Low insurance reimbursement rates and the increasing use of prescription drugs to treat mental illnesses have affected mental health care professionals’ incomes. New York Times.
Number of Estimated Smog Deaths Doubled
The risk of death from breathing smog in California might be two to three times greater than previous estimates, a study found. Los Angeles Times.
Businesses Most Concerned About Health Care
Health care costs and workers’ compensation are among the top concerns of small business owners in California, a survey found. Sacramento Bee.
Some Beneficiaries Satisfied With Medicare Part D
One group of Medicare beneficiaries is satisfied with the new prescription drug benefit and maintains that beneficiaries should enroll in the program despite the confusion and complexity, and some advocates have raised concerns about language barriers to the program. New York Times, Los Angeles Times.
Bills Call for More Disclosure on Rx Drugs
Several bills have been introduced to require disclosure of adverse effects associated with prescription drugs and increased reporting of medical errors at hospitals, but the legislation faces opposition from industry groups. Sacramento Bee.
CMS Orders Return of Some Unused Rx Drugs to Pharmacies
CMS has ordered state Medicaid programs to require nursing homes to return unused medications to pharmacies, according to a letter. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.