Latest California Healthline Stories
Advocates Seek Creation of Obesity Task Force in San Luis Obispo County
Public health advocates on Monday petitioned the San Luis Obispo County Health Commission to create a county obesity task force, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports.
Wall Street Journal Examines Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined issues related to the launch of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and the advice provided to beneficiaries.
Insurance Status Determines Access to Follow-Up Care, Study Finds
Patients who have private health insurance are more likely to receive follow-up care within one week of emergency department treatment than those who are enrolled in Medicaid or lack health coverage, according to a study published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Federal EHR Database Allows Access to Prescription Records of Hurricane Evacuees
Medical personnel who have treated Hurricane Katrina evacuees in eight shelters on Tuesday began to use an online federal database of prescription drug records provided by retail pharmacies, the Washington Post reports.
NGA Medicaid Proposal Might Eliminate Coverage for Some Children
Between 500,000 and 1.5 million children would lose health insurance coverage under a National Governors Association proposal to help reduce Medicaid costs, according to a study released Monday by PICO, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Nearly Half of California Teenagers Eat Fast Food Daily, Study Finds
Two-thirds of California teenagers drink soda and nearly half eat fast food every day, but one-fourth eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily, according to a study released Monday by researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Kaiser Permanente Expansion Plans Will Increase Number of Hospitals, Licensed Beds
The San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday examined Kaiser Permanente’s plans for more than $10 billion worth of construction projects in Northern California in the next eight years.
McClellan Discusses Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit at AHIP Conference
CMS Administrator Mark McClellan at a conference Monday called on private health insurers that will provide prescription drug plans under the new Medicare prescription drug benefit to “help people make an informed and competent decision” about which plan to select, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Contra Costa County To Continue Operating George Miller Centers Until New Administrator Ready
Contra Costa County will continue operations at the George Miller Centers until Contra Costa ARC assumes administration of the centers, likely in October, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Garamendi Will Consider Recommending Further Cuts to Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rates
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) at a public hearing on Friday will consider an industry group’s recommendation that workers’ compensation insurance rates be reduced by another 15.9% for new and renewed policies beginning in 2006, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.