Latest California Healthline Stories
Children’s Health Insurance Program Receives $4.5M Grant
The California HealthCare Foundation has awarded a $4.5-million, three-year grant to CaliforniaKids Healthcare Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides health insurance subsidies for low-income children, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Reforms To Primary Care System Needed, Report States
The U.S. primary care system requires immediate reforms, according to a report released on Monday by the American College of Physicians, Reuters/Houston Chronicle reports.
Florida Gov. Discusses State Medicaid Overhaul Plan
A Florida Medicaid overhaul plan that will begin on a limited basis on July 1 will create a “defined contribution” system under which the state can spend no more than the amount it is allotted for Medicaid, Gov. Jeb Bush (R) said on Friday, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Committee Meetings Weigh Options for Medicare Drug Benefit
Medicare officials will testify before the Senate Committee on Aging on Thursday about how they are addressing various problems with the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Washington Post reports.
Board To Discuss Sales Tax for Botox
Members of the Board of Equalization on Tuesday will meet to consider placing a sales tax on Botox, manufactured by Allergan, the Sacramento Bee reports.
CalOPTIMA Faces Budget Deficit
CalOPTIMA — the Orange County agency that administers Medi-Cal benefits — needs to cut $48 million from its $914 million budget or reserves could drop below state-mandated levels and require the state to take over the program, according to state regulators, the Orange County Register reports.
UCI Medical Center To Explain Reasons for Rejecting Kidneys
The University of California-Irvine Medical Center will provide a written explanation for every organ refusal in its kidney transplant program, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Bush To Propose Expansion of HSAs
President Bush in his State of the Union address on Tuesday plans to announce proposals that provide consumers with “more control over — and responsibility for — their medical spending” to help reduce health care costs, the Wall Street Journal reports.
AARP Calls for Revisions to 2003 Medicare Law
Congress should revise the 2003 Medicare law to allow HHS to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies and revise income criteria for subsidies offered under the drug benefit, Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP, said on Friday in an overview of the group’s legislative agenda for 2006, CQ HealthBeat reports.
New Accounting Rule Addresses Estimates of Retiree Health Costs
The Washington Post on Monday examined a new accounting rule that requires local and state governments to determine how much it will cost to provide health benefits for current and future retirees.