Latest California Healthline Stories
Stem Cell Institute Grants Likely Delayed Until Fall, Hall Says
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine likely will not begin issuing research grants until the fall, CIRM Interim President Zach Hall said on Tuesday during a conference call, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Most hospital executives believe that state-mandated medical error reporting systems that make data available to the public would do little to improve patient safety and would lead to more lawsuits, according to a survey of 200 hospital executives published in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Rep. Nancy Johnson Calls for Pay-for-Performance Medicare Reimbursement System for Physicians
House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) on Tuesday at a hearing indicated that she will seek to replace the current “Sustainable Growth Rate” system used to determine Medicare physician reimbursements with a pay-for-performance system this year, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Initiative To Mandate Drug Discounts Begins Circulation; California Rx Measure Still Under Review
Health Access on Monday began circulating a ballot initiative that would call on the state to leverage Medi-Cal’s bulk purchasing power to “force drug manufacturers to offer discounts” to state residents, the Ventura County Star reports.
Sen. Gordon Smith Says Amendment To Prevent Reductions in Federal Medicaid Funds Has Votes To Pass
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) on Tuesday said that a majority of senators support an amendment he is co-sponsoring that would avert $14 billion in proposed Medicaid cuts from the Senate’s fiscal year 2006 budget resolution and create a commission to study Medicaid, the Washington Post reports.
Sutter Memorial Hospital Could Lose Heart Transplant Program
Some health insurers are declining to cover heart transplants at Sutter Memorial Hospital because of low program volumes, the Sacramento Bee reports.
A new nurse-staffing ratio took effect on Monday after Sacramento Superior Court Judge Judy Holzer Hersher signed a March 4 decision to bar a delay sought by the administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), the Sacramento Bee reports.
Kerry Promotes Universal Children’s Health Insurance Plan in Atlanta
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Monday in Atlanta began a series of forums to promote his legislation (S 114) that would establish universal health coverage for children, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Senate Amendment Could Restore $14 Billion in Medicaid Funding
A Senate amendment that would remove $14 billion in proposed Medicaid cuts from the table and create a commission to study Medicaid “appeared Monday to be gaining support,” CQ Today reports.
Some in Small Communities Displeased With HIPAA Privacy Regulations
The AP/Las Vegas Sun on Sunday examined how the privacy provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which makes a hospital liable if a patient’s name is released without permission, has affected practices that once “helped neighbors stay connected” in small communities.