Latest California Healthline Stories
Officials for the California Manufacturers & Technology Association on Wednesday announced that the group has formed a partnership with the State Compensation Insurance Fund to create a group workers’ compensation insurance program that could result in a 6% reduction in premiums, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Alameda, Contra Costa Counties To Make Additional Budget Cuts After Passage of State Budget
Alameda and Contra Costa counties must make additional cuts to their budgets after the passage last week of a state budget that allocates fewer dollars to local governments, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Legislative Delegation Says Prescription Drugs From Canadian Pharmacies Safe
An 11-member legislative delegation on Wednesday said that prescription drugs purchased from Canadian pharmacies are safe, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Training, Resources for Doctors a Factor in Racial Disparities in Health Care, Study Finds
Doctors treating mostly African-American patients and practicing in largely African-American neighborhoods are more likely than their colleagues to say they have trouble providing high-quality care, according to a study in this week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the Wall Street Journal reports.
San Jose Medical Center Will End Medi-Cal Contract in September
San Jose Medical Center will end its Medi-Cal contract Sept. 21, after which time the facility will provide emergency care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries but will no longer provide elective services, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Medicare To Begin To Cover Expensive Therapy for Patients With Brain Cancer
Medicare officials on Tuesday announced that the program will begin to cover Gliadel Wafer therapy, an “expensive” treatment manufactured by Guilford Pharmaceuticals that can improve survival rates for brain cancer patients with glioma and glioblastoma tumors, the Arizona Daily Star reports.
Officials for the California Board of Pharmacy are opposed to a bill (SB 1149) that would require it to establish a state Web site directing residents to Canadian pharmacies from which they could reimport prescription drugs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Tenet Healthcare Reports Sixth Consecutive Quarterly Loss; CFO Announces Plans To Resign
Officials for Santa Barbara-based Tenet Healthcare on Tuesday announced a second-quarter loss of $426 million, or 91 cents per share, more than double the loss from the previous quarter and the sixth consecutive quarterly loss posted by the company, Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Schwarzenegger Releases California Performance Review, Including Recommendations for Health Programs
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday released the California Performance Review, a 2,500 page report that aims to save $32 billion over five years by eliminating or consolidating more than 100 boards and commissions and modifying state business practices, the Orange County Register reports.
Health Net Reports 45% Drop in Q2 Earnings Because of Inaccurate Hospital Cost Predictions
Woodland Hills-based Health Net on Tuesday reported that second-quarter net income decreased by nearly 45% to $41.4 million, or 36 cents per share, from earnings of $74.8 million, or 63 cents per share, a year earlier because of severance costs related to a workforce reduction and higher overall health care costs, the Wall Street Journal reports.