Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS Did Not Violate Law by Barring Medicare Cost Estimates, HHS OIG Report Finds
The HHS Office of Inspector General on Tuesday concluded that former CMS Administrator Tom Scully “broke no law” when he “repeatedly” ordered Medicare chief actuary Richard Foster to withhold from Congress information about the cost of the Medicare legislation, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Garamendi May Oppose Proposed WellPoint-Anthem Merger
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) on Tuesday said that he would oppose a proposed merger between Indianapolis-based Anthem and Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks unless Anthem spends an amount equal to compensation packages for WellPoint executives included in the agreement — between $200 million and $600 million — on low-income health care programs, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Long Shifts, Overtime for Nurses Can Lead to Increased Errors, Study Finds
Nurses who work shifts longer than 12 hours or who work unplanned overtime at the end of a shift are as much as three times more likely to make errors, such as giving patients incorrect medications or dosages, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Health Affairs, the Boston Globe reports.
San Ramon Nurses, Tenet Healthcare Reach Contract Agreement
San Ramon Regional Medical Center nurses represented by the California Nurses Association on Friday announced that they have reached a contract agreement with Tenet Healthcare, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Alameda County Medical Center managers have improved patient care and financial performance, but inadequate administrative oversight has resulted in a “great waste of public funds,” according to a report by the Alameda County Grand Jury, the Contra Costa Times reports.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors over the next few months will hold public hearings to decide how to distribute the proceeds of a county sales tax increase intended to fund health care services, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Berkeley Ballot Will Include Measure on Medical Marijuana
The Contra Costa Times on Friday examined provisions of three of the “most controversial” ballot initiatives slated to appear on the Nov. 2 Berkeley ballot, including a measure that would give the city the “most liberal” medical marijuana laws in the country.
Participation in Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Decreased in Recent Years, Survey Finds
More workers in recent years have decided not to participate in employer-sponsored health plans because of cost concerns as premiums and copayments increase, according to a recent survey conducted by the Urban Institute, the Boston Globe reports.
JCAHO Downgrades King/Drew Accreditation; Two Graduate Medical Programs Ended
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations last week downgraded Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center to provisional accreditation after finding that the hospital had not fully corrected problems found during a surprise visit in February, JCAHO spokesperson Mark Forstneger said, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors budget committee on Saturday voted 2-1 to approve a revised budget that restores $17 million in programs and services — most of them part of the city Department of Public Health — that were eliminated under Mayor Gavin Newsom’s (D) budget proposal, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.