Latest California Healthline Stories
Thompson Announces New Board on Disparities in Health Care, Affirms Commitment to Issue
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Monday announced the creation of the Health Disparities Council, a new board charged with developing a plan to eliminate quality gaps in health care, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Santa Paula Hospital Board Outlines Efforts To Restore Hospital Services
Santa Paula Memorial Hospital board members on Wednesday released a letter outlining their efforts to restore hospital services and to seek cooperation with the cities of Fillmore and Santa Paula, the Ventura County Star reports.
BlueCross BlueShield Association To Launch National Task Force To Address Fraud
The BlueCross BlueShield Association plans to launch a national task force to address an estimated $50 billion in health care fraud, BCBSA President Scott Serota announced on Monday in a speech to the Detroit Economic Club, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Officials from the Division of Occupational Health and Safety’s Cal/OSHA program this week plan to begin visits to adult film sets as state and Los Angeles County officials determine whether they have the authority to mandate condom usage on the sets, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Two HIV/AIDS Patients File Suit Against Abbott Over Price of Norvir
Two HIV/AIDS patients on Monday in the U.S. District Court for Northern California filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories claiming that the pharmaceutical company illegally “jack[ed] up the price” of its antiretroviral drug Norvir by 400%, Reuters reports.
Medicare and Medicaid Fraud, Abuse Could Exceed Government Figures, Analysts Say
Medicare and Medicaid are being defrauded of far more money each year than the government can track, according to Joseph Antos, a health care scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, CongressDaily reports.
Legislation Governing Health Plan, Hospital Chain Contracts Introduced in Senate
As expected, Sen. Deirdre Alpert (D-San Diego) on Monday introduced a bill (SB 1509) that would make it illegal for a hospital chain to require a health plan to contract with all of its hospitals, the Sacramento Bee reports.
San Francisco Chronicle Examines Medical Discount Companies
The San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday examined the growing number of medical discount companies — including the emergence of two such companies in the Bay Area — that market themselves to uninsured U.S. residents by offering discounts on health services for an enrollment fee and monthly charges.
Los Angeles County Budget Proposal Includes Funding Cuts to Mental Health, Other Programs
Los Angeles County officials on Monday presented a $17 billion spending proposal for fiscal year 2004-2005 that includes reductions to mental health services and other programs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Schwarzenegger Signs Workers’ Compensation Reform Bill
As expected, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Monday signed a bill (SB 899) that will reform the state’s workers’ compensation system, the Los Angeles Times reports.