Latest California Healthline Stories
State Insurance Regulators Approve UnitedHealth Group Acquisition of PacifiCare Health Systems
California insurance regulators on Monday approved the proposed acquisition of PacifiCare Health Systems by UnitedHealth Group, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Number of Deaths More Than Expected at St. Vincent Kidney Transplant Program
St. Vincent Medical Center had a “higher-than-expected” mortality rate between January 2002 and June 2004 among patients in its kidney transplant program, prompting two insurers to stop sending kidney transplant patients to the hospital, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Orange, San Mateo Counties Use Disease Tracking Programs
Officials in Orange and San Mateo counties recently discussed plans to implement and expand computer tracking systems for diseases. Summaries appear below.
Six Testing Sites Discontinue OraQuick Oral HIV Tests as Officials Investigate False Positives
At least six testing sites in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City earlier this month discontinued use of OraSure Technologies’ oral OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test after reports of an abnormal number of false-positive results from the test, the Los Angeles Times reports.
CNA Members Ratify Two-Year UC Contract
The California Nurses Association on Sunday said University of California nurses voted to ratify a two-year contract that includes provisions on salary increases and nurse-staffing ratios, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Newspapers Examine Issues Related to New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Several newspapers on Tuesday examined issues related to the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, which begins Jan. 1.
Florida Governor Signs Bill To Shift Some State Medicaid Beneficiaries to Managed Care
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) on Friday signed into law legislation that will create a pilot program to shift some of the state’s Medicaid beneficiaries to managed care plans and cap spending growth on the program at 8% for the next five years, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports.
Dot-Com Bubble Burst Causes Some Underemployed Bay Area Residents To Skip Medical Care
About one-fifth of Bay area residents have skipped or postponed medical care because it is too costly, according to a survey released Sunday by the San Jose Mercury News and Kaiser Family Foundation.
AARP Criticizes Medicaid, Medicare Changes in Budget Reduction Bill Approved by House
AARP “strongly opposes” the fiscal year 2006 spending cut package (S 1932) approved by the House on Monday, AARP CEO Bill Novelli wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), The Hill reports.
San Diego Retirement Association Discusses Options for Continuing Health Benefits
The San Diego County Employees Retirement Association board on Monday began discussing options to finance medical benefits and cost-of-living increases for county retirees, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.