Latest California Healthline Stories
State Reverses Position, Reimburses Counties, AIDS Project Los Angeles for FY 2003-2004 Allocations
Officials in the administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said at a Senate Budget subcommittee hearing Monday that the state is “expediting checks” to a number of health agencies that previously were told they would not receive reimbursement funds for money already spent on health projects, the Sacramento Bee reports.
King/Drew Medical Center Receives Tentative Approval From Hospital Accreditation Group
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations “tentatively” told Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center that it passed a recent inspection and will retain full accreditation, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services officials said Monday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) Launches Health Care-Focused Campaign
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) on Monday launched a four-day, health care-centered campaign, saying that President Bush has “ignor[ed] a health care crisis in America” and that his proposals would “cure a ‘badly broken’ system,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Fewer-Than-Anticipated Violations of Nurse-To-Patient Ratio Rules Reported
State regulators received “relatively few complaints” of violations of new nurse-to-patient ratio rules in the first quarter despite “dire warnings” from some who said the rules would “hamstring hospitals,” the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
Large Employers To Form Health Insurance Purchasing Pool for Four Million Uninsured Employees
As expected, about 50 of the largest U.S. employers on Monday announced plans to form a health insurance pool for about four million part-time, temporary and contract employees who lack coverage, as well as early retirees, former employees who have exhausted their COBRA coverage and children of employees who are students but no longer qualify for coverage, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Assembly Approves Bill To Ease Rules on Needle Exchange Programs
The Assembly on Monday voted 43-27 to approve a bill (AB 2871) that would ease restrictions placed on municipal needle exchange programs, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.
Report Examines Strategies for Partnerships Between States, Health Foundations
The current issue of the journal Health Affairs includes a special report on strategies for partnerships between states and private health foundations, based on a November 2003 roundtable discussion that focused on experiences of foundations in California.
San Francisco Health Commission Considers $12.6 Million in Budget Cuts
The San Francisco Health Commission on Tuesday will consider $12.6 million in budget cuts for the city Department of Public Health, a move that could result in the closure of four mental health clinics and a reduction in hours at two primary care clinics and in nonmedical HIV/AIDS services, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Rising Costs of Anemia Drug Epogen
The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday examined CMS’ concerns over dialysis treatment Epogen’s rate of prescription and “skyrocket[ing]” cost to Medicare, which more than doubled between 1998 and 2002 to $1.2 billion.
House To Vote on Bill Concerning Doctors’ Reporting of Undocumented Immigrants
A bill (HR 3722) that would require emergency department physicians to report and in some cases fingerprint undocumented immigrants that they treat could come up for a vote in the House as early as this week, CQ Today reports.