Latest California Healthline Stories
Alameda County Supervisors Approve Contribution for Taxes on Retiree Health Benefits
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a $23.7 million contribution to a fund that pays taxes on health benefits for about 6,000 retired county employees, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Tauzin Praises PhRMA Prescription Drug Assistance Program
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America President and former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) on Tuesday said that about 240,000 people have received less-expensive or no-cost prescription drugs in the first 100 days of PhRMA’s prescription assistance program, the Los Angeles Times reports.
California Healthline Highlights Recent News Related to Medicare
California Healthline examines recent news related to Medicare.
House Passes Legislation To Authorize Association Health Plans; Senate Approval Unlikely
The House on Tuesday voted 263-165 to approve a bill (HR 525) that would allow small businesses to form association health plans across state lines and would exempt the plans from a number of state laws that regulate health plans and require them to cover certain benefits, CQ Today reports.
Expanded Genetic Screening for Newborns Begins Monday
All infants born in California hospitals will receive newborn screening for 75 genetic disorders beginning Monday, when a law to expand the state screening program goes into effect, state health officials and screening advocates said at a Tuesday press conference announcing the program, the Sacramento Bee reports.
DOJ Report Critical of Quality of Care at Napa State Hospital
Napa State Hospital does not adequately provide medical and psychiatric care to its 1,100 patients, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report posted online on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Proponents Prepare Campaigns for Prescription Drug Measures on Special Election Ballot
Although supporters of Proposition 79 have raised at least $9 million and supporters of Proposition 78 have raised more than $53 million for their respective campaign efforts, some experts say the campaign that “does the better job crafting its message” about its prescription drug discount program will win the Nov. 8 special election, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
Schwarzenegger Supports Legislation To Establish Nutrition Standards for Schools
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Monday voiced support for legislation pending in the Assembly that would ban soda and junk food in schools throughout the state, saying that state residents need to be more vigilant in addressing obesity, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Washington Post Examines Medicaid Reform Efforts by Governors
The Washington Post on Tuesday examined how Medicaid reform remains the “top legislative priority” of governors nationwide amid concerns that the federal government “has not gotten the message.”
Changes to Medicare Physician Payment Formula Possible, McClellan Says
Lawmakers might enact changes to the Medicare physician payment formula in time to reverse payment rate reductions scheduled to take effect in January 2006, CMS Administrator Mark McClellan said Monday while distributing a “quality-improvement roadmap” for Medicare, The Hill reports.