Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Reimbursements Focus of Budget Negotiations
Budget negotiators early on Tuesday “appeared close to agreement” on a 1% increase in Medicare reimbursement for physicians under a fiscal year 2006 deficit reduction package, but lawmakers did not appear to agree on the cost of the measure, about $18 million, CongressDaily reports.
Some Hospitals Have Not Taken Steps To Address Medical Errors, Study Says
Many U.S. hospitals have not taken important steps to prevent medical errors, according to a study published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Washington Post reports.
Sacramento Bee Looks at Loss of Medi-Cal Managed Care Subsidy
The Sacramento Bee on Monday examined a decision by the state to stop Medi-Cal from paying premiums for about 35,000 low-income and disabled state residents enrolled in Medicare managed care plans beginning Jan. 1.
Immigrants in California More Likely To Be Uninsured, Study Finds
Immigrants and their children in California are twice as likely to be uninsured as other state residents, and nearly half of all immigrants in the state receive Medi-Cal benefits, according to a study released Monday by the Center for Immigration Studies, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Medi-Cal Provider Reimbursements To Decrease in 2006
The administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Monday announced in a mailed bulletin to health care providers that it will temporarily reduce Medi-Cal reimbursement rates by 5% through 2006, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Newspapers Examine Implications of Survey on Consumer-Directed Health Plans
The Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle recently examined a survey released on Thursday by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and the Commonwealth Fund on consumers’ satisfaction with health savings accounts paired with high-deductible insurance plans, as well as the availability of health cost comparison information.
More Oversight of Reprocessed Medical Devices Requested
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) — ranking member of the House Appropriations agriculture subcommittee, which oversees FDA — on Monday requested more federal oversight of reprocessed medical devices designated for one-time use, the Washington Post reports.
BiDil Can Reduce Costs for Black Heart Failure Patients
A heart failure medication approved by FDA for use in blacks can reduce related health care costs by 34%, according to a study published on Tuesday in the journal Circulation, Reuters reports.
Judge Declares Mistrial in First Federal Vioxx Lawsuit
U.S. District Court Judge Eldon Fallon on Monday declared a mistrial in the first federal trial related to the COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict decision in more than 18 hours of deliberations, the New York Times reports.
Schwarzenegger Appoints State Supreme Court Justice; Rulings Include Abortion-Related Cases
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Friday nominated appellate Judge Carol Corrigan to the state Supreme Court, the Los Angeles Times reports.