Latest California Healthline Stories
Many Enrollees in Consumer-Directed Health Plans Not Satisfied, Delay Care, Survey Finds
People enrolled in consumer-directed health plans do not appear to be as satisfied with their coverage and are more likely to delay or forego care than members of traditional health plans, according to a study released Thursday by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, the Hartford Courant reports.
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Releases Draft Recommendations on Payment Updates
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Thursday released several draft recommendations related to payment updates for fiscal year 2007, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Kaiser Permanente Will Pay for Dual Eligibles Enrolled in Kaiser Medicare HMO Plans
Kaiser Permanente in 2006 will pay Medicare HMO premiums for people dually eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal who are members of Kaiser plans, company officials announced Thursday, the San Mateo County Times reports.
Severe Flu Pandemic Would Move U.S. Into Recession, CBO Report Finds
A severe flu pandemic could cause a 5%, or $675 billion, reduction in U.S. gross domestic product and move the nation into a recession because of the loss of productivity and decrease in consumer spending, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released on Thursday during a speech by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), CQ HealthBeat reports.
U.S. Reports Record Low 37 Measles Cases in 2004, CDC Finds
Confirmed measles cases in the U.S. declined from 44 cases in 2002 to 37 cases in 2004, CDC officials reported on Thursday, Reuters/Arizona Daily Star reports.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Hospital News
Specialty hospital breaks ground in Loma Linda; Oxnard facility announces closure of geriatric unit
Public Health Officers Challenge Findings of Bioterror Preparedness Report
Public health officers in California said the state is less prepared for a bioterror incident than a report issued on Tuesday indicates, the Sacramento Bee reports.
CIRM Accumulating Legal Bills Before Research Is Started
The California Institute of Regenerative Medicine has not distributed Proposition 71 funds for stem cell research but has accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Gun Violence Costs San Francisco $6.2M Annually for Health Care
San Francisco taxpayers spend $6.2 million in unreimbursed medical costs on cases related to gun violence, according to estimates by the San Francisco Controller, the San Francisco Examiner reports.
Senator Says He Has Support To Extend Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Period
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said that he has adequate support to pass a bill that would extend the enrollment period for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit until Dec. 31, 2006, The Hill reports.