Latest California Healthline Stories
Responding to criticism from Republicans that they are trying to deter Medicare beneficiaries from signing up for the new prescription drug discount cards, Senate Democrats have introduced a bill that would facilitate automatic enrollment of low-income beneficiaries, CongressDaily reports.
Sen. Edward Kennedy Introduces Electronic Medical Records Legislation
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ranking member Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Thursday introduced a bill (S 2421) that would require most health care providers to implement electronic medical records and claims processing by 2011 or face reduced reimbursement, CongressDaily reports.
House Passes Bill To Allow Small Businesses To Form Association Health Plans Across State Lines
The House on Thursday voted 252-162 to approve a bill (HR 4281) that would alter health insurance regulations to allow small businesses to form association health plans across state lines, CQ Today reports.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) on Thursday at a rally in Little Rock, Ark., criticized President Bush for “shortchanging the nation’s medical care system,” the Boston Globe reports.
United States Should Subsidize HIV/AIDS Care for Low-Income Residents, Report Recommends
The U.S. government should subsidize HIV/AIDS care for all low-income residents, according to a report released on Thursday by a National Academies’ Institute of Medicine committee panel, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Schwarzenegger Releases Revised Budget Proposal That Eliminates Some Health Care Cuts
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Thursday released a revised version of his fiscal year 2004-2005 state budget proposal, which in “a stunning reversal” withdrew proposals that would have denied “hundreds of thousands” of residents access to health care coverage and “restricted health care to millions more,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
California Hospitals Concerned About Bill Requiring Reporting of Undocumented Immigrants
Hospitals in the Central Valley are “wary” of a bill (HR 3722) that would require emergency department physicians nationwide to report undocumented immigrants that they treat, and the California Healthcare Association is among groups that are “stepping up their lobbying” efforts against the legislation, the Modesto Bee reports.
Alameda County Homeless Population Less Healthy, Survey Shows
Homeless and “marginally housed” residents in Alameda County have high rates of serious health problems and other service needs, according to a survey conducted by a consortium of 45 agencies released Thursday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Ventura County Grand Jury Report Cites Lack of Urgent Care Clinics in East County
A Ventura County grand jury report released this week found that a shortage of urgent care clinics in the eastern part of the county is forcing the uninsured and Medi-Cal beneficiaries to travel to clinics in the western part of the county or pay out-of-pocket for services at private clinics, the Ventura County Star reports.
Group Presents Workers’ Compensation Analysis to Insurance Commissioner
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau on Thursday formally presented to Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) its analysis of the recently enacted law (SB 899) to reform the state workers’ compensation insurance system, the Sacramento Bee reports.