Latest California Healthline Stories
More Than 5M Have Voluntarily Enrolled in Medicare Drug Benefit
Bush administration officials say about 1.5 million beneficiaries have voluntarily enrolled in the Medicare drug benefit in the last 30 days, pushing enrollment to more than five million who have voluntarily signed up. Palm Beach Post.
Molina Healthcare Reports Reduced Q4 Profit
Rising hospital costs lead to reduced fourth-quarter profit for Molina Healthcare. Reuters/Los Angeles Times.
Tobacco Companies’ Lawsuit Rejected
The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear a lawsuit brought by tobacco companies that alleges television ads financed by taxes on cigarettes in California violate the companies’ 1st Amendment rights. Reuters/Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Legislation Important Step in Providing Health Insurance
Sen. Carole Migden writes that legislation she has introduced to require large employers to provide employee health benefits targets “corporations most able to afford health care” for workers. San Francisco Examiner.
Prescription Sales Increased 5.4% in 2005
U.S. prescription drugs sales increased by 5.4% in 2005 and should continue to increase annually by at least that rate until 2010, IMS Health finds. Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer.
Flu Vaccinations Recommended for Children Ages Two to Five
A CDC advisory committee recommends that children ages two to five, as well as their “household contacts,” receive annual influenza vaccinations. Washington Post, et al.
WebMD Markets Online Records to Insurers, Large Employers
WebMD Health has signed contracts with several insurers and large employers to provide personal health records that enable employees to track their care and find medical information. New York Times.
Committee Approves Bill To Change HIV Reporting System
The state system used to report HIV cases would use names instead of alphanumeric codes under a bill the Assembly Health Committee approved this week. The Advocate.
Canadian Drug Sales Decline Since Start of Medicare Drug Benefit
Sales from Canadian pharmacies to the U.S. have decreased by as much as 30% since the launch of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. AP/Detroit News, et al.
Health Care Spending To Reach $4T by 2015
A CMS report estimates that U.S. health care spending will increase by an average of 7.2% annually until 2015, when spending will reach $4 trillion and account for 20% of the gross domestic product. Los Angeles Times, et al.