Latest California Healthline Stories
Possible Increase in Medicare Reimbursements Could Affect Doctors in Sonoma, Santa Cruz Counties
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat on Friday examined federal officials’ consideration of a proposal to increase Medicare payments to doctors in some counties, including Sonoma and Santa Cruz counties, by about 8% to offset “significant disparities” between Medicare reimbursements and the cost of treating Medicare beneficiaries.
Newsom Signs Budget Maintaining Funds for Public Health Programs
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) on Thursday signed a $5.3 billion budget that will “keep most public health programs whole,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
HHS Office of Inspector General Report Finds Problems With Outside Work Requests by NIH Scientists
As expected, the HHS Office of Inspector General on Friday released a report that found problems with how NIH monitors outside work by agency scientists, AP/Long Island Newsday reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Use of Pill Splitting To Reduce Prescription Drug Costs
The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined the practice of splitting pills in half as a way for consumers and insurers to reduce spending on prescription drugs.
Experimental Avian Flu Vaccine Effective, U.S. Health Officials Say
An experimental vaccine against a strain of avian flu “appears to be effective” at protecting against infection, “offering the first evidence that any inoculation could provide a powerful weapon against the deadly microbe,” federal health officials announced on Saturday, the Washington Post reports.
Health Net Reports Almost 30% Increase in Second-Quarter Earnings
California-based Health Net on Thursday reported that second-quarter net profit increased by 29.5% from $41.4 million, or 36 cents per share, in 2004 to $53.6 million, or 47 cents per share, the Hartford Courant reports.
Drug Discount Initiatives Similar to Ohio, Maine Programs
California voters following the Proposition 78 and Proposition 79 campaigns “can expect to hear a lot about Maine and Ohio” because supporters for both proposals say their plans are modeled after laws creating drug discount programs in those states, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Supporters, Opponents of Parental Notification Ballot Measure File Competing Lawsuits
Supporters and opponents of Proposition 73 last week filed separate lawsuits in Sacramento County Superior Court to challenge each other’s suggestions for the wording of the voter pamphlet that will be used in the November special election, the Los Angeles Times reports.
National Quality Forum Endorses Physician Outpatient Care Standards
The National Quality Forum, a not-for-profit group formed to establish consensus on health care quality measures, on Thursday announced the endorsement of a series of voluntary standards to determine and publicly report the quality of outpatient care provided by physicians, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Public Agencies Consider Increasing Cost of Retiree Health Benefits
Public agencies statewide — including cities, counties and school districts — are not adequately prepared to pay retiree health benefit costs, which could exceed some agencies’ annual operating budgets in some cases, the Los Angeles Times reports.