Latest California Healthline Stories
Federal Medicaid Commission Members Oppose Some Bush Administration Reform Proposals
Members of the federal Medicaid commission charged with recommending short- and long-term reforms to the program “made clear” on Wednesday that the commission “would not rubberstamp proposals” from the Bush administration, which appointed the commission’s members, or the National Governors Association, the New York Times reports.
Racial Health Care Disparities Continue Despite Some Improvements, Study Finds
While some improvements have been made in health care equality among black and white U.S. residents, significant disparities remain for black patients, including less access to operations, tests, medications and other treatments, according to three studies published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Washington Post reports.
Report Assesses Progress in Case on Quality of Mental Health Care in Los Angeles County
Although some progress has been made, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services “has still not demonstrated a commitment to achieving the objectives of the settlement” of a class-action lawsuit in which five children claimed they received inadequate mental health care, according to a report by a court-appointed panel of mental health experts, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Santa Clara County on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against nine major pharmaceutical companies, alleging that they had overcharged county hospitals and other public health agencies for drugs administered through a state discount program, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
FDA Denies Petition To Remove Weight-Loss Medication Meridia From Market
FDA has denied a petition from Public Citizen to remove Abbott Laboratories’ prescription weight-loss drug Meridia from the market, Abbott and Public Citizen said on Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reports.
San Francisco Health Officials Seek Explanation for Decline in HIV Incidence
San Francisco health officials are working to determine what factors contributed to an apparent decline in annual HIV incidence among the city’s men who have sex with men, the New York Times reports.
DHS Must Reimburse Medi-Cal Beneficiaries for Prior Care, Court Rules
A state Court of Appeal on Monday said the Department of Health Services must order health care providers to reimburse Medi-Cal beneficiaries for medical costs incurred up to three months prior to the time the beneficiaries applied for the program, as well as costs beneficiaries incurred during the application process, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Decreased Medicare Payments Could Cause Physician Pullout, Survey Finds
Sixty percent of physician respondents to a California Medical Association survey released Tuesday said they would stop accepting new Medicare patients if Medicare payments to doctors are reduced as scheduled, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Leavitt Discusses Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, Other Issues in Utah
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Tuesday said that states should not expect additional financial assistance with the cost of the 2003 Medicare law, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Tulare County Plans Meeting With Black Residents To Address Mental Health Programs
Tulare County health officials will meet with black community members Friday to discuss what types of programs are needed to help residents who have untreated mental illnesses and what kinds of improvements can be made to current programs, the Fresno Bee reports.