Latest California Healthline Stories
AARP To Endorse Senate Bill To Allow Reimportation of Prescription Drugs From Other Nations
Officials for AARP on Tuesday announced that the 36 million-member organization will endorse a bill (S 2328) that would allow the reimportation of prescription drugs from other nations, the Boston Herald reports.
Orange County Overall Costs Decrease, While Health Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Costs Rise
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday reviewed the $1.3 billion budget for community services agencies, including the Health Care Agency, noting that the “slight drop” in overall costs will not offset increases in costs for retirement, health insurance and workers’ compensation insurance, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Tenet Raises $1 Billion in Private Bond Sale
Officials for Tenet Healthcare on Tuesday announced a $1 billion bond issue that will allow it to pay off some debts that will come due in the next two years, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Employer-Sponsored Coverage Law Increasing Attention to Issue of Uninsured
A law (SB 2) that will require some employers to provide health insurance to their workers or pay into a state fund to provide such coverage is drawing increased attention to the number of self-employed people and small-business owners without health insurance, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
California Medical Association President Supports Emergency Services Ballot Initiative
California Medical Association President Dr. Robert Hertzka is promoting an initiative on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot that would levy a telephone surcharge to “help bail out” emergency departments, trauma centers and emergency doctors, the Monterey County Herald reports.
82 Million U.S. Residents Lacked Coverage at Some Point in 2002-2003, Study Finds
Nearly 82 million U.S. residents under the age of 65 were uninsured at some point in 2002 and 2003, an increase of seven million over the rate of 74.7 million in 2001-2002, according to a new study from Families USA conducted by the Lewin Group, USA Today reports.
CalPERS Health Committee Recommends Average 11.4% HMO Premium Rate Increases for 2005
The CalPERS health committee on Tuesday recommended HMO premium rate increases of about 11.4% for 2005, “considerably more moderate” than increases of 26% and 18% in 2003 and 2004, respectively, the Contra Costa Times reports.
As legislators continue to negotiate the fiscal year 2004-2005 state budget, Democratic lawmakers say that they plan to resist funding cuts for home care for the elderly, blind and disabled, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Officials for Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center on Wednesday issued 60-day termination notices to 89 employees, blaming the layoffs on increased workers’ compensation insurance costs and the state-mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratio rules, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Sacramento-Area Hospitals Dropped by CalPERS Had High Quality Ratings, Blue Shield Analysis Shows
Several of the Sacramento-area hospitals scheduled to be dropped from CalPERS’ Blue Shield of California HMO network in 2005 were rated among the highest for quality in an analysis by Blue Shield, the Sacramento Bee reports.