Latest California Healthline Stories
New Jersey Hospitals Improve Pneumonia, Heart Attack Care, Report Finds
New Jersey hospitals improved care provided to pneumonia and heart attack patients in 2004, according to a second annual report on hospital quality recently released by the state Department of Health and Senior Services, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Eight of 10 U.S. Cities With Highest Physician Prices in Wisconsin, GAO Report Finds
Eight of the 10 U.S. cities with the highest prices for physician services are located in Wisconsin, according to a report released last week by the Government Accountability Office, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
DHS Will Refund Hospitals Related to Medi-Cal Reimbursement for Some Lab Tests
The Department of Health Services will refund California hospitals for using outdated data to calculate Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for some clinical laboratory tests, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Digital Mammograms More Effective Than Film Mammograms for Certain Women, Study Finds
Digital mammograms are 15% to 28% more effective than traditional film mammograms in the detection of breast tumors in women younger than age 50, women with dense breast tissue and pre- or peri-menopausal women, according to a new study, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Some House Republicans Call for Delay in Medicare Prescription Benefit To Offset Hurricane Costs
Some conservative House Republicans are considering a number of measures that would offset the funding going toward the recovery effort for Hurricane Katrina, including a proposal that would delay implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, Roll Call reports.
Senate Committee Approves Two Bills To Expand Health Care for Veterans
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Thursday approved two bills by voice vote to expand health care for veterans, CQ Today reports.
California Newspapers Examine Decline in Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
Several newspapers on Thursday published articles addressing a report that found 60% of U.S. businesses offered employer-sponsored health insurance to workers in 2005, compared with 69% in 2000 and 66% in 2003.
Campaign in Favor of Proposition 79 Launches
The Yes on Proposition 79 campaign on Wednesday held a rally in Sacramento, with leaders promising a strong grassroots and Web-based effort, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Texas Officials, Federal Government Reach Agreement on Medicaid Coverage for Hurricane Evacuees
The federal government and Texas officials on Thursday said they reached an agreement on how to over the next five months pay for health services of Hurricane Katrina survivors who evacuated to Texas, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Schwarzenegger Signs Bills To Limit Junk Food in Schools
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Thursday signed bills addressing school nutrition at the Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity at the state fairgrounds in Sacramento, the Sacramento Bee reports.