Latest California Healthline Stories
Tenet Faces Investigation by Federal Prosecutors in Missouri
Officials for Tenet Healthcare on Friday announced the U.S. attorney’s office in St. Louis has asked for information related to physician-relocation agreements in Missouri — the “latest sign that the government is conducting a broad review of the hospital chain’s doctor-recruitment policies,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Marin General Hospital Cited for Compliance Problems, Could Lose Federal Medicare, Medi-Cal Funds
CMS officials have identified unspecified compliance problems at Marin General Hospital and are “forcing the hospital to correct the errors or lose its federal funding” for treatment of Medicare and Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
HIV/AIDS advocates at a community hearing on Thursday raised concerns about a Santa Clara County proposal to eliminate the county HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program as part of a “hastily assembled plan” to reduce the county health department budget by $2.3 million, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Department of Managed Health Care Approves CalPERS Plan To Drop 24 Hospitals From HMO Network
Officials for the Department of Managed Health Care on Friday approved a plan by CalPERS to drop HMO coverage at 24 hospitals, the “final step needed for the 1.2 million-member pension fund to proceed with its controversial plan to cut health care costs,” the Sacramento Bee reports.
State Republican Party Votes To Oppose Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ballot Measure
Members of the California Republican Party at their convention on Sunday voted to oppose a measure on the November statewide ballot that would provide the state with about $3 billion in funds for human embryonic stem cell research, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Democratic Presidential Nominee Kerry Says He Would Lift Restrictions on Stem Cell Research
Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) on Saturday during the weekly Democratic radio address said he would lift the restrictions President Bush has placed on human embryonic stem cell research and “stand up for science,” the Boston Globe reports.
San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Praises Delay on Medi-Cal Reform Proposal
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has “precious little margin for error” in efforts to reform Medi-Cal, and his decision to delay his proposal “makes sense on several levels, not the least of which is that it is the humane thing to do,” a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial states.
Philadelphia Inquirer Looks at Lawsuits Against Hospitals Over Charity Care
The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday looked at the recent series of lawsuits filed against not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals alleging that they overcharge uninsured patients.
Democratic Presidential Nominee Kerry Promotes Health Care Plan at Campaign Stops in Several States
Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) this weekend in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona promised that as president, he would “provide relief to the millions of Americans struggling without health insurance and preventive health care” as part of his train tour across the nation, the Denver Post reports.
Target’s In-Store Clinics Offer Quick Health Care
The Baltimore Sun on Sunday examined “the latest extension of the nexus of medicine and retailing” — an influx of emergency health clinics in large retail stores.