Latest California Healthline Stories
Medication Errors Occur More Often in Radiology Departments
Medication errors that cause injuries occur seven times more often in radiology departments than in other hospital departments, according to a report released on Wednesday by U.S. Pharmacopeia, the Washington Post reports.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Health Care-Related County News
Five California counties recently acted on health care-related issues. Summaries appear below.
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Could Lead To Action on Legislation To Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide
The 6-3 Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that physician-assisted suicide in Oregon does not violate the federal Controlled Substances Act could “pav[e] the way” for California to pass assisted-suicide legislation, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Leavitt, McClellan Answer Questions About Medicare in Conference Call
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Tuesday in a conference call with reporters said the department is working to address problems with the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, including increasing the number of telephone operators to assist pharmacies working with Medicare beneficiaries from 150 on Jan. 1 to 4,500, the Detroit News reports.
Maryland Passes Law To Require Large Employers To Offer Health Coverage
The Maryland General Assembly on Thursday overrode Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s (R) veto of a bill that will require employers with more than 10,000 workers in the state to spend at least 8% of their payroll on employee health care or to pay into a fund for the uninsured, USA Today reports.
Proposed Bill Would Increase State Oversight of Hospitals, Require More Inspections
Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) on Thursday said she would introduce legislation this week to increase state inspections at hospitals and make hospital safety records available on the Internet, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Popularity of Limited Health Plans Increases as Health Care Costs Rise
With rising health costs, “mini-medical” or “limited-benefit” plans that cover only routine physician visits and offer little to no coverage for hospitalization or emergency care have become popular options for some U.S. companies as an alternative to more comprehensive plans, the Wall Street Journal. reports.
Bush Rejects Caps on Income Tax Deductions for Health Insurance
President Bush has decided not to support a plan recommended by the nine-member President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform that would cap income tax deductions for workers receiving employer-sponsored health insurance, according to Al Hubbard, director of the White House’s National Economic Council, Bloomberg reports.
Nursing Home Violations Often Underreported, GAO Report Finds
State nursing home inspectors often fail to report or underreport “serious deficiencies that cause actual harm or immediate jeopardy to patients,” according to a new report released by the Government Accountability Office, the New York Times reports.
Tenet Healthcare Settles Shareholder Suits Over Medicare Billing for $215M
Tenet Healthcare on Thursday announced plans to pay $215 million to settle federal class-action shareholder lawsuits that alleged the company misled investors about improper Medicare billing practices, the AP/San Luis Obispo Tribune reports.