Latest California Healthline Stories
Schwarzenegger Picks Insurance Industry Official as Aide
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Friday appointed Don Dunmoyer (R) to the newly created position of deputy chief of staff and senior adviser for policy development, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Federal Officials Participate in Flu Preparedness Drill
About 20 Cabinet secretaries and federal officials on Saturday participated in a drill to test U.S. preparedness for a flu pandemic, the AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.
Grassley Requests More Information From N.J. Group About Medicare QIOs
Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday sent a letter to the CEO of a New Jersey Medicare Quality Improvement Organization requesting additional information about its compensation and spending practices as part of an ongoing investigation into the company’s operations, the Washington Post reports.
USA Today Examines Different Medicare Drug Plans
USA Today on Monday examined different plans offered by health insurers under the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
State officials are planning a mass mailing starting Wednesday through Dec. 21 to notify about one million California residents dually eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare of a state policy that will pay for a 100-day supply of prescription drugs to help facilitate the transition to coverage under the Medicare drug benefit, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Congress Prepares To Begin Negotiations on Medicaid, Labor-HHS Bill
Congress “will soon plunge into battle over the future of Medicaid,” as lawmakers negotiate over Senate and House budget deficit reduction packages, the New York Times reports.
Nursing Home Emergency Plans Unregulated by State
Emergency preparedness plans for California nursing homes are largely unregulated by local and state authorities, which leaves homes with “insufficient guidance” and allows some homes to “avoid crucial preparation,” according to an investigation by the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
DHS Conducts Statewide Survey About False-Positive HIV Test Results
The Department of Health Services is conducting a statewide survey after use of an oral HIV test in San Francisco clinics yielded an unusual number of false-positive test results, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Medical Marijuana News
Several California localities recently took action related to the use of marijuana for medical purposes under Proposition 215, a 1996 state law that allows state residents to use marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.
Life Expectancy Increases to 77.6 Years in U.S., Study Finds
Life expectancy in the U.S. increased to 77.6 years in 2003 from 77.3 in 2002, according to a report released on Thursday by the National Center for Health Statistics at CDC, the AP/Arizona Daily Star reports.