Latest California Healthline Stories
HHS Office of Inspector General Report Finds Drug Makers Overcharge Public Hospitals, Clinics
Pharmaceutical companies have “repeatedly overcharged” medical clinics and public hospitals for low-income patients’ medications, sometimes making them pay “more than the maximum prices allowed by federal law” under a discount program established in 1992 through the Public Health Service Act, investigators from the HHS Office of Inspector General said Tuesday, the New York Times reports.
Berkeley’s Black Residents at Greater Risk for Tobacco-Related Diseases
African Americans living in Berkeley are two times more likely than white residents to be diagnosed with cancer, stroke, heart disease or another tobacco-related disease, according to new statistics released Thursday by Berkeley city officials, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Teresa Heinz Kerry Discusses John Kerry’s Health Care Plan in Iowa
Teresa Heinz Kerry, Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) wife, on Tuesday discussed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s health care plan at the Primary Health Care Outreach Clinic in Des Moines, Iowa, the Des Moines Register reports.
MedPAC Members Meet With Rural Providers To Discuss Perceived Payment Disparities
Three members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission are meeting with health care leaders in the Midwest this week to discuss changes in the Medicare payment system for rural providers, the Fargo Forum reports.
EPA Report Says Millions of People Inhaling ‘Unhealthful Air’
Ninety-nine million U.S. residents are breathing “unhealthful air” that could lead to respiratory problems and premature death, according to an EPA report released Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.
Third San Mateo County Hospital Could Cause Unnecessary Competition, Task Force Finds
Having three full-service hospitals within a three-mile radius in San Mateo County initially could result in a shortage of doctors and nurses, but eventually could be necessary as the county’s baby boom population ages, according to an informational report issued Tuesday by the San Mateo County Task Force on New Hospital Construction, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Contra Costa Supervisors Approve Budget Containing Funding Cuts for Health Programs
As expected, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously passed a $1.1 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2004-2005 that calls for “deep cuts” to the county Health Services Department to help address a $53.5 million budget deficit, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Santa Paula City Council Approves Plan To Consider Selling Parcels of Memorial Hospital’s Property
The Santa Paula City Council on Monday voted unanimously to approve a plan directing City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz to work with Santa Paula Memorial Hospital’s creditors to identify buyers for parcels of property that are not necessary for hospital operations, the Ventura County Star reports.
Schwarzenegger Agrees to 5% Wage Increase for State Nurses
Officials from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) administration on Tuesday confirmed that the governor has agreed to a wage increase of at least 5% for state-employed nurses, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Medical Debt Affects Some 20 Million Americans, Study Finds
One in seven U.S. families, or about 20 million total, had problems paying medical bills last year, and many of them had to choose among paying health care, food and housing expenses, according to a new report to be released Wednesday by the Center for Studying Health System Change, the Wall Street Journal reports.