Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Beneficiaries, Doctors Make ‘Conservative’ Choices
A clinical trial of Medicare beneficiaries that showed mixed results for an emphysema surgery is dissuading patients and doctors from undertaking the procedure, thus reducing Medicare costs. New York Times.
County Sues Mental Health Facility
Santa Clara County filed a lawsuit against a contracted mental health provider alleging mistreatment of patients, malpractice and fraud. San Jose Mercury News.
A Superior Court judge after March 15 will issue a ruling in a case challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 71, but any decision likely will be appealed. Los Angeles Times, et al.
Organ Transplant Group Imposes Sanction on Los Angeles Hospital
St. Vincent Medical Center on Thursday received the first public sanction from the United Network for Organ Sharing after the hospital admitted to performing an unauthorized liver transplant. Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register.
$4.5M in Grants Fund Nutrition, Health Efforts
Kaiser Permanente has awarded grants totaling $4.5 million to neighborhood organizations to promote healthful and active lifestyles in some low-income areas. Modesto Bee.
Health care experts, providers and patients say that efforts to include immigrants in the health care system have been ineffective because of language and cost barriers and fear of deportation. New York Times.
Wyoming Senator To Introduce Association Health Plan Bill
Senate HELP Chair Michael Enzi will introduce a bill (S 1955) that would allow association health plans to form under certain conditions. CongressDaily, CQ HealthBeat.
Nevada Pharmacy Board Approves Reimportation Regulations
The regulations would allow shipments of medications approved by FDA and Canada’s drug regulatory agency but would prohibit shipments of controlled substances or shipments from off-shore affiliates. Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Sun.
Generic Drugs Reduce Costs Under Medicare Drug Benefit
Two separate studies find that Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the prescription drug benefit can significantly reduce their medication costs by switching from brand name treatments to generic drugs or lower-cost therapeutic equivalents. CQ HealthBeat, et al.
Immigrants Healthier Than U.S.-Born Residents
A CDC report finds that U.S. immigrants are generally healthier than native-born residents, despite less access to health care. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AP/Salt Lake Tribune.