Latest California Healthline Stories
Program Puts Migrant Workers’ Health Records Online
A pilot program aimed at improving the health care of migrant workers is giving no-cost electronic health records to California farm workers and their families. The program started with 50 workers and now has a network of 2,200. AP/Washington Post.
HHS Approves Arkansas Waiver for Health Insurance Program
Employers that have not provided health insurance to employees for 12 consecutive months are eligible for the program, which will require participating employers to guarantee coverage for all workers. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Proposed Medicare Cuts Excluded From Senate Budget Bill
The chair of the Senate Budget Committee says he will not include President Bush’s recommended cuts to Medicare and other entitlement programs in the committee’s fiscal year 2007 budget bill because the proposals lack enough support. AP/Houston Chronicle, et al.
CMS, Calif. Legislators Debate Reports on Drug Costs
CMS officials say a report by congressional Democrats does not consider the full scope of the Medicare drug benefit, but California Democratic legislators stand by the report’s findings. Oakland Tribune.
Hospital, Insurer Contract Negotiations Raise Questions
Terminated Blue Cross of California contracts at San Diego County hospitals could suggest that some hospitals or insurers are more difficult to negotiate with than others. North County Times.
Bill Seeks Requirements for Physicians Offering Acupuncture
Physicians, dentists and podiatrists would have to undergo additional training to practice acupuncture in California under an Assembly bill. Currently, there are no additional training requirements for physicians to practice acupuncture. Sacramento Bee.
HHS Likely To Approve Arkansas Medicaid Waiver
The program is designed to provide health insurance for 80,000 low-income state residents and would require participating employers to guarantee that all employees would receive coverage, regardless of income or other factors. New York Times.
Week-Long KPCC Series Examines Health Disparities
KPCC will address issues including the impact of lifestyle on health, lack of health insurance among young adults and school-based clinics. Audio.
Facility Collects Embryos for Stem Cell Research
San Diego is home to what is believed to be the first public embryo bank in the U.S., collecting unused embryos donated by clients of in vitro fertilization clinics and making the embryos available to stem cell researchers. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Fidelity Says Retirees Need $200K for Health Costs
A couple without employer-sponsored retiree health coverage will need about $200,000 to pay for out-of-pocket health costs in retirement, Fidelity says. Wall Street Journal, et al.