Latest California Healthline Stories
Little Hoover Commission Report Says HHS System Could ‘Collapse’ Without Reform
The state’s “$60-billion-a-year” health and human services system is “in danger of collapse,” and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and policymakers must make “fundamental reform” their “highest priority,” according to a report by the Little Hoover Commission, an independent state oversight committee, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Calls for National Campaign To Address Childhood Obesity
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday called for a “massive” national campaign to address the issue of childhood obesity, one similar to efforts to reduce smoking rates and the spread of HIV/AIDS, CongressDaily reports.
Assembly Committee Approves Bill To Ban Smoking in Vehicles With Minors
The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted to approve a bill (AB 2997) under which motorists would have to pay fines for smoking in vehicles with young children on board, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.
New Head of Department of Managed Health Care To Focus on Speeding HMO Payments to Medical Groups
In a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Cindy Ehnes, the new director of the Department of Managed Health Care, said she plans to focus on maintaining the financial health of doctors’ groups, assuring that HMOs pay physicians promptly and streamlining some health plans’ paperwork and licensing requirements.
Assembly Health Committee Passes Medical Fraud Bill
The Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday voted to approve a bill (AB 2354) that would strengthen laws against medical discount card programs not offered by health plans that are marketed to uninsured residents by promising savings on health services for a monthly fee, the Stockton Record reports.
Medicare Discount Card Program Should Save Beneficiaries 10% to 17% on Brand-Name Prescription Drugs
The prescription drug discount cards that became available this week as part of the new Medicare law should save beneficiaries an average of 10% to 17% off average retail price for commonly used brand-name drugs, according to a study released Wednesday by CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, CQ Today reports.
Medicare To Increase Reimbursement Rates for Nursing Homes That Care for AIDS Patients
This fall, nursing homes caring for patients with AIDS will receive increased Medicare payment rates, CMS announced this week.
Schwarzenegger Scheduled To Release Medi-Cal Reform Plan Next Week
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) next week will release his proposal to reform Medi-Cal as part of his revised budget proposal, administration officials said Wednesday, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.
20 Million Employed Adults Lacked Health Insurance in 2002, Study Finds
More than 20 million employed U.S. adults lacked health insurance in 2002, according to a study released on Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, CongressDaily reports.
Legalization of Prescription Drug Reimportation ‘Inevitable,’ HHS Secretary Thompson Says
The passage of legislation that would allow the reimportation of prescription drugs is “inevitable,” HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said on Tuesday at a press conference for regional newspapers, the Los Angeles Times reports.