Latest California Healthline Stories
Wall Street Journal Examines ‘Decision Support’ Prescription Order Entry Systems
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined the impact of a recent study that analyzed the effect of computerized order entry systems on medical errors at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
Elimination of Acupuncture Board Under Consideration
The administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and some members of the Legislature are pushing to abolish the six-year-old California Acupuncture Board, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Hospitals Adopting VA Electronic Health Records System Despite Complaints
The St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday examined the Department of Veterans Affairs’ “lofty plans to overhaul” the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture, which is being implemented by hospitals worldwide despite criticism from some users of the system.
Studies Examine Effect of States’ Medical Malpractice Laws
Several studies released this week examine how tort reform laws in different states — including 27 with caps on noneconomic damages in malpractice suits — have affected physician services and malpractice insurance premium rates, the Washington Times reports.
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Physicians’ Class-Action Lawsuit Against Insurers To Proceed
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to delay proceedings in a lawsuit filed on behalf of about 600,000 physicians accusing several health insurers of conspiring to systematically lower doctors’ payments, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.
Newspapers Examine Issues Related to Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Several newspapers recently examined issues surrounding applications for prescription drug assistance available under the new Medicare drug benefit.
Department of General Services Could Reduce Medication Costs, Audit Says
The Department of General Services obtains lower prescription drug prices than the Department of Health Services and CalPERS but should negotiate for more rebates, according to a state audit, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Latino Senior Population Increasing; Studies Reflect Disparities in Care
The increasing proportion of Latino seniors in California could raise unique issues for how to provide care for the population group, including language barriers and access to care, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Experts Meet Secretly To Discuss Recommendations for the Uninsured
The New York Times on Sunday examined the efforts of 24 “ideologically disparate leaders representing the health care industry, corporations and unions, and conservative and liberal groups” who have been “meeting secretly for months” to come to a consensus on how to provide health coverage to the uninsured.
San Francisco Chronicle Profiles Sutter Health
The San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday examined Sutter Health and how it is viewed as “either a schoolyard bully that uses its market muscle to gouge patients and push around its workers or a tough and efficient operator that has restored ailing hospitals to financial health.”