Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA To Use Industry Data To Improve Post-Market Prescription Drug Surveillance
FDA has contracted with four health industry organizations to help it conduct post-market surveillance of prescription drugs by using data from large volumes of patient records, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
AARP Endorses Proposition 79, Says ‘Priority’ is to Stop Proposition 78
AARP on Wednesday recommended that its 3.1 million California members vote in favor of Proposition 79 and against Proposition 78, after a six-member executive committee unanimously approved the position, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Governors Ask for Medicaid Package To Aid Hurricane Evacuees; Grassley Threatens Budget Process
After testimony from the governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi — the states hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina — on Wednesday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing, some lawmakers pushed President Bush to “drop [his] opposition” to legislation that would alter Medicaid rules for hurricane survivors, the Washington Post reports.
Fresno County Supervisors Order Report To Determine Scope of Injection Drug Use
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors ordered county Health Officer Edward Moreno to determine whether injection drug use in the county has reached a public health crisis, which would allow the county to create a legal needle-exchange program to address the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, the Fresno Bee reports.
Large U.S. Employers Face 8% Health Care Cost Increase in 2006, Survey Finds
Health care costs for large U.S. employers in 2006 will increase by 8%, a smaller rate of increase than in recent years, according to the 17th annual Towers Perrin Health Care Cost Survey released on Wednesday, Reuters/MSNBC.com reports.
Judge Reverses Ruling on EEOC Rule Change Regarding Retiree Health Benefits
In a reversal of her previous ruling, U.S. District Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia on Tuesday said the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has the right to enact a rule allowing employers to reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees once they reach the age of Medicare eligibility while retaining health benefits for younger retirees, AP/USA Today reports.
Senior Advocates Urge Caution as HMO Members Enroll in Medicare Rx Benefit Plans
California Medicare beneficiaries who currently are enrolled in managed care plans could accidentally unenroll themselves by signing up for one of the 18 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug benefit plans that take effect Jan. 1, 2006, health officials warn, the Sacramento Bee reports.
WellPoint Reaches Agreement To Acquire WellChoice for $6.5B in Cash, Stock
Indiana-based WellPoint, the largest health insurer in the U.S., has reached a deal to purchase New York-based WellChoice for $6.5 billion in cash and stock, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
DHS Fines, Cites Nursing Home After Patient Death; Facility Will Appeal
The Department of Health Services has fined Davidson’s Residential Homes $25,000 and has issued an “AA” citation — the state’s most severe rating — after a resident at the Sun Valley Court facility in Merced died in March, the Merced Sun-Star reports.
Proposal From Former Oregon Governor To Reform State Health Care System Examined
Matt Miller, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, in the Oct. 3 issue of Fortune examined a proposal by former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) to reform the state health care system.