Latest California Healthline Stories
New York Times Examines Debate Over Medicare Prescription Drug Formulary Guidelines
The New York Times on Sunday examined the “huge battle” between insurers and pharmaceutical companies over the number of medications that will be covered under the new Medicare law.
Proposition 72 Campaigns Examined
The Hartford Courant on Monday examined the debate surrounding Proposition 72, an initiative that allows state residents to vote “yes” to uphold or “no” to repeal SB 2, a state law scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2006, that will require some employers to provide health insurance to workers or pay into a state fund to provide such coverage.
New Therapies, Better Coordinated Treatment Needed for Prostate Cancer, Specialists Say
There is an “urgent” need for new prostate cancer therapies and better coordination of treatment for the disease in part because of an increase in the number of men entering the primary risk age for the disease, according to a report written by 24 prostate cancer specialists, the Washington Times reports.
Teresa Heinz Kerry Details Health Care Proposals in Colorado
Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), on Friday in Colorado led a crowd of more than 500 supporters “through detailed, numbers-heavy explanations” of the Democratic ticket’s health care plan, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports.
CMS May Stop Medicare, Medicaid Reimbursements To Alameda County Medical Center
CMS has notified the Alameda County Medical Center that unless the public hospital system “demonstrates marked improvements” in four regulatory areas, it will halt reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid services on Nov. 10, which would cause the loss of millions of dollars in payments resulting in the closure of ACMC, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Contra Costa Times Examines Debate on Ballot Measure To Fund Mental Health Services
The Contra Costa Times on Friday examined the debate surrounding Proposition 63, a measure on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot that would raise the state income tax to fund mental health services.
FEHBP To Offer Health Plan That Excludes Contraception Coverage
The Bush administration last week announced a new Catholic health care plan for federal employees that specifically excludes payment for contraception, abortion-related services, sterilization procedures and artificial insemination, the New York Times reports.
Orange County Supervisor Chuck Smith on Friday announced that he plans to ask the county Board of Supervisors to approve a pilot program to allow county employees to reimport lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Tobacco Companies Make Opening Arguments in $289 Billion Justice Department Lawsuit
The tobacco industry has reformed sales and marketing practices and never conspired to mislead the public about the health risks of smoking, attorneys for several large tobacco companies said in opening arguments on Wednesday in a lawsuit filed over allegations that the companies violated a federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, the Washington Post reports.
‘Quality Gaps’ at Health Plans Lead to 79,000 Avoidable Deaths Annually, NCQA Report Says
As many as 79,000 avoidable deaths occur annually as a result of “quality gaps” in the care provided by health plans nationwide, despite the fifth consecutive year of improvement, according to a National Committee for Quality Assurance study released on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reports.