Latest California Healthline Stories
Ortiz Calls for Hearing on Request To Drop 38 Hospitals From CalPERS’ Blue Shield HMO Network
Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) in a letter Monday asked Department of Managed Health Care Director Cindy Ehnes to hold a public hearing before ruling on Blue Shield of California’s request to eliminate 38 hospitals from its HMO network for CalPERS members, the Sacramento Bee reports.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Will Discuss Possible Tax Incentives for Biotech Firms
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will discuss a tax incentive proposal, sponsored by Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, that would exempt biotechnology firms from the city’s 1.5% payroll tax for 10 years, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Blue Cross Notifies Medi-Cal Beneficiaries of St. Agnes Hospital’s Threat to End Contract
Blue Cross of California sent letters to Medi-Cal beneficiaries and doctors in Fresno County notifying them of a Sept. 7 deadline for an agreement in contract negotiations between Blue Cross and St. Agnes Medical Center and the possibility that the hospital might terminate its contract with the insurer to provide services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the Fresno Bee reports.
NIH Committee Issues New Recommendations on Cholesterol
The National Cholesterol Education Program, an NIH committee, on Monday issued new recommendations that “sharply” reduce the targeted levels of cholesterol for individuals at high and moderate risk for heart disease, the New York Times reports.
Senators Introduce Bill To Help Increase Number of U.S. Public Health Workers
Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday introduced a bill that seeks to increase the number of public health workers to improve U.S. preparedness for bioterrorist attacks and other emergencies, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
House This Week Likely To Pass $5.6 Billion Bill To Fund Project BioShield
The House is expected Wednesday to pass a bill (S 15) that would provide $5.6 billion over 10 years to fund Project BioShield, a program that encourages the development of medications and vaccines to treat U.S. residents in the event of a biological, nuclear, radiological or chemical attack, CQ Today reports.
State Inspection System for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities ‘Corrupted,’ Senator Says
State inspectors of nursing homes and assisted living centers are “sometimes pressured to overlook or downplay problems,” and CMS needs to increase its oversight of the “broken” process, according to a letter from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, USA Today reports.
The House this week likely will pass the fiscal 2005 agriculture appropriations bill (HR 4766), despite a provision that would block FDA enforcement of a ban on prescription drug reimportation, CQ Today reports.
Frommer Calls for Additional Funding in State Budget To Fight West Nile Virus
Assembly member Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) has proposed making two changes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) proposed fiscal year 2004-2005 state budget to fund efforts to fight the spread of West Nile virus, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Insurance regulators at a Department of Managed Health Care hearing Friday said they expect to rule “in the next few weeks” on a proposed merger between Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks and Indianapolis-based Anthem following a review of “widespread complaints” about the deal, the Los Angeles Times reports.