Latest California Healthline Stories
Schwarzenegger Expected To Call November Special Election
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) at 5 p.m. Monday is expected to call a Nov. 8 special election, with several health-related ballot measures expected to be included on the ballot, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
AP/Philadelphia Inquirer Examines Health Insurer Support for Pill Splitting
The AP/Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday examined recent efforts by health insurers to reduce costs by encouraging pill splitting.
Contra Costa Supervisors Oppose Funding Cuts to Health Services
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors at a budget workshop Thursday rejected 21 of 39 proposed cuts to county health services that would have reduced county spending by about $6 million, the Contra Costa Times reports.
President Bush Promotes Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit in Weekly Radio Address
President Bush on Saturday in his weekly radio address “touted his changes” to Medicare as part of a shift from his recent focus on Social Security to health care and other domestic policy concerns, Reuters/New York Daily News reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Concerns About Use of Report Cards To Rate Physicians
The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined concerns about the use of “report cards” to rate physician performance.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Thursday sent to 18 pharmaceutical companies letters that requested information about grants awarded to state officials and other organizations that might have influenced prescription drug purchases by Medicare and Medicaid, the New York Times reports.
DOJ Lawyers Say Requested Smoking-Cessation Program Would Not Cover All U.S. Smokers
Department of Justice lawyers on Thursday during the conclusion of DOJ’s civil racketeering lawsuit against several major U.S. tobacco companies said the government no longer seeks industry-funded cessation programs to focus on all 45 million U.S. smokers, the Washington Post reports.
HMO Rates in 2006 Will Rise at Slower Pace, Data Shows
HMO rates for 2006 will increase at their slowest pace nationally in more than five years, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the human resources-consulting firm Hewitt Associates, the Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal reports.
DHS Letter States Hospitals Are Not Specific Targets of Terrorist Attack
Department of Health Services on Thursday faxed letters to 440 hospitals statewide confirming that “there is no information regarding any specific or defined” terrorist threat against state hospitals, as was reported in an FBI affidavit released Tuesday, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Children’s Health Initiative Supporters Praise Program, Seek Help From State
The Children’s Health Initiative has helped about 150,000 California children obtain health insurance, and the California Endowment and other supporters have asked the state to “complete the circle” and provide coverage for the almost 800,000 children who remain uninsured, the San Jose Mercury News reports.