Latest California Healthline Stories
Lawmakers Seek Increased Accountability on DHS Plans To Prevent Bioterrorism
Concerned that the Department of Health Services “is stumbling in its use of millions of dollars in federal bioterrorism grants,” Assembly member Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate), chair of the budget subcommittee on health and human services, on Monday said that he will ask the Legislative Analyst’s Office for an independent assessment of grant income and spending, the Sacramento Bee reports.
CMS Launches Medicare Pay-for-Performance Demonstration Project
As part of an effort to shift Medicare’s physician reimbursement system to a pay-for-performance model, CMS on Monday announced the start of a demonstration project that will give bonuses to physician practices that improve care for beneficiaries and lower costs, the Winston Salem Journal reports.
Ortiz Wins Approval To Create Stem Cell Oversight Subcommittee
Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) on Friday won legislative approval to create a Stem Cell Research Oversight subcommittee within the Senate Health Committee in an effort to monitor stem cell research funded by Proposition 71, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Newspapers Examine Hospital Pricing Discrepancies
Recently published articles on Sunday examined a law implemented July 1, 2004, that allows consumers access to official hospital charges.
North County Times Looks at Patient Privacy Controversy
The North County Times on Saturday examined legal accusations by a Ramona resident that doctors violated his privacy by giving his contact information to a political action committee supporting Proposition BB.
Men in Santa Clara County are more likely to be overweight but “much less likely to diet — or even to try to stick with their current weight — than women,” according to a county survey released Friday, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kaiser Permanente Bans Use of Bextra Over Safety Concerns
California-based Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest not-for-profit HMO, last week ordered its pharmacies to stop dispensing Pfizer’s COX-2 inhibitor Bextra because of evidence that it might increase the risk of heart attack, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Bush Administration’s Efforts To Promote Health Savings Accounts
The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined President Bush’s efforts to promote the use of health savings accounts, an idea “far more developed than his Social Security plans [that is] advancing at a rapid clip through a combination of actions by government, insurers, employers and individuals.”
Nunez Announces Panel To Study Hospital, ED Closures in Los Angeles County
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) on Friday announced the creation of a special legislative panel to address hospital and emergency department closures in Los Angeles County, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports.
Alameda Hospital Reports Improved Financial Performance After Hiring Turn-Around Consultants
Alameda Hospital has reduced its estimated budget deficit by more than half since the Alameda Health Care District in May 2004 hired El Cerrito-based consulting firm Delta One Partners, the Contra Costa Times reports.