Latest California Healthline Stories
California Healthline Rounds Up Recent Hospital News
Several hospitals recently announced construction projects, grant receipts and other news.
Medicaid Largest U.S. Payer for Mental Health Services, Study Finds
Medicaid programs pay for more mental health services in the United States than private insurance, Medicare or other state and local programs, according to a study published Tuesday in Health Affairs, CQ HealthBeat reports.
The “political equivalent to a game of chicken” between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Democratic legislators has made it difficult for many issues, such as legislation to address prescription drug costs and other health care-related concerns, to “gain traction,” according to some legislators and observers, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Contra Costa County Jails To Implement Medication-Dispensing Machines To Reduce Costs
Contra Costa County has agreed to lease three machines that will dispense medications to the roughly 1,900 inmates in the Martinez and Richmond jails and juvenile hall, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Pharmaceutical Industry Reacts to State Efforts To Reduce Prescription Drug Costs
The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to defeat proposed ballot initiatives in California that would require drug makers to provide discount prescription medications to consumers, as well as pharmaceutical industry efforts against similar measures in other states.
Medicare Part B Premiums Expected To Increase 12% in 2006
Premiums for Medicare Part B — which covers physician services, outpatient hospital care, some home health services and durable medical equipment — will increase by an estimated 12% in 2006, from $78.20 to $87.70 per month, CMS announced on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reports.
New York Times Examines Application for Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Assistance
The Bush administration has sent out the first of about 20 million applications to people who might qualify for additional federal assistance under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, officials said Monday, the New York Times reports.
Los Angeles County Might Impose Sanctions on Drew University Medical School
Los Angeles County is considering issuing sanctions against Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science for allegedly failing to comply with some requirements in its contract to administer physician-training programs at Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Medicare, Medicaid Reforms, Electronic Health Records Top HHS Agenda, Leavitt Says
Reforming Medicare and Medicaid and creating an electronic health records system will be HHS’ top priorities in the coming years, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said on Friday during a tour of CDC facilities, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
HMO Enrollment Not Affected by ‘Backlash’ in Late 1990s, Study Finds
Most consumers in the late 1990s did not end participation in HMOs, despite a “backlash” over restrictions on health care, according to a new RAND study, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.