Latest California Healthline Stories
State officials have begun work to estimate the future cost of providing health and dental benefits to retired state employees in an effort to comply with accounting regulations issued last year, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
AP/Detroit News Examines Increased Number of Tiered Health Plans Nationwide
The AP/Detroit News on Friday examined some health insurers’ offering of tiered health plans that base member copayments on health care providers’ quality and cost information. Under such plans, member copayments are highest for physicians and hospitals that health insurers say provide more costly care.
Riverside County Facility Receives Fine, Citation Related to Patient Death
The Department of Health Services on Wednesday announced a $35,000 fine and “A” and “AA” citations against Baker House, a Riverside County live-in facility for children with developmental disabilities, following the investigation of a 2004 patient death, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Health policy experts at a conference in New Jersey on Thursday proposed that the federal government provide states with a “policy toolbox” to allow them to experiment with methods for reducing the number of uninsured residents in their states, CongressDaily reports.
Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford Announces Drug Safety Oversight Board Members
Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford recently appointed members of the agency’s new Drug Safety Oversight Board, which was announced in February as part of a series of drug-safety initiatives to address criticism about the agency’s drug regulation, CQ HealthBeat reports.
The Contra Costa Times on Friday examined interactions between Bob White, a political strategist and officials of the administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), as well as White’s potential influence on policy issues, including state nurse staffing rules and Medi-Cal reform.
State Declines To Disclose Terms of Purchasing Agreement for Hepatitis Treatment
State officials said California will save more than $1 million under a contract to buy the hepatitis C medication pegylated interferon from drug maker Roche but declined to disclose the terms of the contract, the Sacramento Bee reports.
U.S. Comptroller David Walker Warns About Increased Medicare Costs, Federal Budget Deficit
Medicare costs are taking up an increasing portion of the overall federal budget, and the program could become part of the growing problem of funding the U.S. health care system, U.S. Comptroller General David Walker warned at an event in New York City on Wednesday, Reuters/Yahoo! News reports.
Creation of Genetically Matched Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Could Affect Congressional Debate
The announcement by South Korean scientists that they have created 11 genetically matched human embryonic stem cell lines could affect the debate in Congress over whether to loosen the Bush administration’s restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Reuters reports.
Blue Shield of California Reports Increased Enrollment
Blue Shield of California on Thursday reported that enrollment increased by 24% in 2004, the third straight year of membership growth, the Los Angeles Times reports.