Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Net Must Continue Coverage for Trial Lawyers Association, Appeals Court Rules
A state appeals court has ruled that Health Net of California must continue health care insurance coverage for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Prescription drug prices under the new Medicare drug benefit are considerably higher than the prices negotiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a study by Families USA.
Students who display unprofessional behaviors in medical school are three times more likely to receive disciplinary action from a state medical board in their professional careers than those who do not display such behaviors, according to a study published on Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, USA Today reports.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Hospital News
Natividad Medical Center outlines three-phase savings proposal to reduce $15.6 million deficit; Union officials for workers at Sutter Health hosptials ask for contract provisions similar to those granted to California Pacific Medical Center
Senate Approves Fiscal Year 2006 Labor-HHS, Defense Appropriations Bills
The Senate on Wednesday voted to approve the $602 billion Labor-HHS spending bill (HR 3010) and the $453.5 billion fiscal year 2006 Department of Defense appropriations measure (HR 2863), which includes funding for flu preparedness and hurricane recovery efforts, the Washington Times reports.
Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office Warns Hospitals of Patient-Dumping Investigation
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office on Thursday will send letters to hospitals in the city warning them of an investigation into allegations that area hospitals routinely transport some discharged patients to downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Colorado Regulators Approve PacifiCare Health Systems Acquisition by UnitedHealth Group
Colorado insurance regulators on Wednesday approved the proposed acquisition of PacifiCare Health Systems by UnitedHealth Group, with the addition of conditions “to protect consumers and bolster rural care,” the Denver Post reports.
Newsom Concerned About Economic Impact of Proposed Employer Insurance Mandate
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday in a letter to the county Board of Supervisors said he is concerned that proposed legislation that would require businesses with 20 or more employees to provide health benefits to workers could hurt small businesses and not-for-profit organizations, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments to Several State Boards
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday announced several appointments to state boards, including several health-related positions.
Rising State Revenues Might Allow More Health Program Spending
State revenues “improved notably” in fiscal year 2005, which will allow “many states to begin restoring funding to programs cut during the previous economic downturn,” according to the Fiscal Survey of the States issued Tuesday by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers, the Washington Post reports.