Latest California Healthline Stories
Sen. Robert Byrd Becomes First Democratic Senator To Endorse Association Health Plans Bill
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) has become the first Democratic senator to endorse legislation (S 545) that would alter health insurance regulations to allow small businesses to form association health plans across state lines, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Eden Township Healthcare District Plans To Purchase San Leandro Hospital
The Eden Township Healthcare District on Wednesday announced plans to purchase San Leandro Hospital from Texas-based hospital chain Triad Hospitals for $35 million, the Chico Enterprise-Record reports.
Groups Begin Campaigning in Favor of, Against Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Law
Consumer advocacy group Health Access California began the first part of a $15 million campaign against a referendum to repeal a law (SB 2) that would require some employers to provide health coverage to employees or pay into a state fund to provide such coverage, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Blue Shield Changes Classification of Two Hospitals in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County residents who are members of Blue Shield of California health plans will soon have to pay more out-of-pocket for nonemergency hospitalizations at Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospitals because the insurer has changed the way it classifies the two hospitals, the Santa Barbara News-Press reports.
A Los Angeles jury on Thursday unanimously rejected allegations that the diabetes medication Rezulin, manufactured by Pfizer, contributed to the deaths or illnesses of three individuals, the Los Angeles Times reports.
New Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card Program Debuts
The new Medicare prescription drug discount card program is set to debut Tuesday, as enrollment continues to be slow, the New York Times/Detroit Free Press reports.
Los Angeles Times Opinion Piece, Letter to the Editor Address Issue of the Uninsured
A recent Los Angeles Times opinion piece and letter to the editor addressed the issue of the uninsured.
A group of Republican and Democratic senators maintain that they have “lined up” the 60 votes required to pass a bipartisan bill (S 2328) that would allow U.S. residents to purchase lower-cost, U.S.-manufactured prescription drugs from other nations, which some observers “say could lead the White House to change its position” on the issue, The Hill reports.
San Francisco Mayor Newsom Proposes Privatizing Inmate Health Services To Reduce Costs
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) in his budget for fiscal year 2004-2005 is proposing privatizing the San Francisco jail health care system to save as much as $4.5 million in the second half of fiscal year 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Insurance Commissioner Recommends Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rate Cut
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) on Friday recommended that workers’ compensation insurance carriers reduce their premium rates by 20.9% based on expected savings from the recently enacted workers’ compensation reform law (SB 899), the Los Angeles Times reports.