Latest California Healthline Stories
Chrysler Group To Announce Reduced Employee Health Benefits
DaimlerChrysler’s Chrysler Group plans to announce a reduction in health benefits for salaried employees. Wall Street Journal.
Bush Discusses Medicare Drug Benefit
President Bush acknowledged problems with the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit but said that the issues were being resolved and that beneficiaries should enroll. New York Times, et al.
Health Net Offers Cross-Border Health Plan
A series of private cross-border health plans being announced today by Health Net targets the uninsured Latino population in Southern California. Los Angeles Times, AP/Contra Costa Times.
Summit To Focus on Pandemic-Flu Preparedness
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt will co-host a summit this month to discuss avian flu preparedness in California. San Francisco Chronicle.
Humboldt County Looks To Insure Children
A Children’s Health Initiative program in Humboldt County could provide health coverage for 1,500 children, officials said. Eureka Times-Standard.
Wal-Mart Employees Enrolled in Public Health Insurance Programs More Than Others
An AFL-CIO report finds that in 19 states more workers from Wal-Mart than from any other company relied on public health care programs, such as Medicaid, for their health needs. Reuters/Washington Post.
Retiree Health Care Liability Reaches $1B in San Diego
The unfunded liability for San Diego retirees’ health care benefits will continue to increase if the city does not pay more than the minimum for health costs from year to year, a report states. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Proposal to Increase VA Health Care Cost-Sharing Blocked
The Senate unanimously approved an amendment to strike down a Bush administration proposal to charge some veterans for their health care. Spokane Spokesman-Review, CongressDaily.
Reiner Campaign Activity Draws Criticism
California Republican senators have called on Gov. Schwarzenegger to replace film director Rob Reiner as head of a commission that funds children’s health care and education programs, but Reiner said he has no intention of resigning. Orange County Register, et al.
Judge ‘Disappointed’ With Prison Reforms
The acting corrections secretary was criticized by a federal judge for distributing a memo to employees that did not mention improving medical care within the system or several other reform priorities. Contra Costa Times, Los Angeles Times.