Latest California Healthline Stories
Program at Ventura County Hospital Provides Nurse Training for Employees
St. John’s two hospitals in Ventura County — Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo — have started a program that allows some hospital employees to take nursing classes at Moorpark College at no cost, the Ventura County Star reports.
Kaiser Permanente To Offer High-Deductible Plans In Response to 10% Premium Rate Increases
Oakland-based HMO Kaiser Permanente said Wednesday that it will begin offering high-deductible health insurance plans that could reduce monthly premiums by more than 50%, the Orange County Register reports.
The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday will begin an investigation into the prices pharmaceutical companies charge Medicaid for their products, the Los Angeles Times reports.
HHS Secretary Says He Will Not Release Additional Documents on CMS Cost Estimates for Medicare Law
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Wednesday said that he will not release additional documents related to Bush administration cost estimates for the new Medicare law, despite a formal request issued on Monday by Democrats on the House Government Reform Committee, CongressDaily reports.
Bush Administration Releases Unclassified Version of Bioterrorism Preparedness Directive
An unclassified version of President Bush’s recently signed directive on biodefense strategy was made public on Wednesday at an HHS news conference, the Washington Post reports.
Health Care Industry Unprepared for HIPAA Security Provisions, URAC Report Finds
The health care industry is “unprepared to safeguard the confidentiality of patient data” in compliance with security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, according to a report released on Wednesday by URAC, a not-for-profit group that accredits health care organizations on quality issues, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday was scheduled to hold a hearing on a bill (AB 2630) that would limit severance packages for administrators at Alameda County Medical Center, which has terminated contracts with nine CEOs in 10 years, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Drew University Announces Reorganization of Board of Trustees
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science on Wednesday announced plans to “restructure” the school’s board of trustees, which has been “criticized for blocking needed changes and fostering poor communication” with administrators at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Bush Administration Launches Ad Campaign for Medicare Prescription Drug Cards
The Bush administration this week launched an $18 million campaign designed to promote the new Medicare prescription drug discount card program, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Representatives of Adult Entertainment Industry Meet With Legislators To Discuss Possible Regulation
A delegation of about 18 representatives from the adult entertainment industry on Monday was scheduled to meet with about 80 state lawmakers and legislative staffers to discuss the possibility of increased state regulation of the industry, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.