Latest California Healthline Stories
Bush Plans to Focus Domestic Agenda on Health Care in 2006
President Bush plans to focus on health care as the “centerpiece of his 2006 domestic agenda,” in part in response to employer and consumer concerns about increased costs, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Group Asks CMS To Address Issues With Medicare Drug Benefit
The Senior Citizen’s Law Center on behalf of 45 health advocacy groups nationwide on Wednesday sent a letter to CMS Administrator Mark McClellan asking the agency to address 18 alleged problems with the Medicare drug benefit immediately, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Critics Say Proposed Budget Will Hurt Low-Income Seniors
Critics of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) fiscal year 2006-2007 state budget proposal, which he released Tuesday, say that cuts to a number of health and welfare programs will affect low-income and elderly residents disproportionately, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Schwarzenegger Budget Proposal Includes Increase for Some Health Programs
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday proposed a $125.6-billion fiscal year 2006-2007 budget that includes a 4%, or $1.2 billion, spending increase for health and human services programs, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Blue Shield of California Plans Major Computer System Upgrade
Blue Shield of California is planning to upgrade its computer system, which could cost the insurer $100 million or more over several years, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
New York City To Monitor Diabetic Residents’ Blood Sugar Levels
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene beginning on Sunday will require laboratories to provide information on blood sugar levels for people with diabetes within 24 hours of testing, the Washington Post reports.
Senate Committee Probe of Educational Grants by Drug Firms Expands
A Senate Finance Committee investigation into educational grants awarded by pharmaceutical companies to physicians and groups that promote medications for unapproved uses has found the “payments are growing rapidly,” the New York Times reports.
Scientists Debate Safety of Chemicals in Children’s Products
Scientists at a joint hearing of the Assembly Health and Environment committees debated a bill (AB 319) that would ban the use of phthalates and bisphenol A in products intended for children younger than age three, the Sacramento Bee reports.
More States Move To Address Problems With Medicare Drug Benefit
At least six states have begun to temporarily cover prescription drug costs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries who have reported problems with access to medications under the new prescription drug benefit, and several others might take similar action, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
MedPAC Recommends Payment Levels for 2007
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Tuesday voted to adopt several final recommendations to Congress for fiscal year 2007, including a plan to increase Medicare hospital inpatient and outpatient payments by the market basket increase minus 0.45%, CQ HealthBeat reports.