Latest California Healthline Stories
San Jose Mercury News Examines Growing Popularity of Professional Health Programs
The San Jose Mercury News on Monday examined the increased number of former dot-com workers and younger students entering into health care training programs at Silicon Valley universities and community colleges following the collapse of the region’s technology industry.
Explanation for Medicare Blimp Advertisement Costs Sought
In a letter to CMS Administrator Tom Scully, Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) is requesting an “immediate and full explanation” for a CMS advertisement campaign in which a blimp flying over sporting and other events displays Medicare’s new toll-free number, the Washington Times reports.
Conferees Reach Deal on Fund To Encourage PPO Participation in Medicare
Negotiators attempting to reconcile the House and Senate Medicare bills (HR 1 and S 1) have tentatively agreed on the creation of a $12 billion fund that would be used to increase payments to preferred provider organizations to encourage their participation in Medicare, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Tenet Ordered To Pay $253 Million to Former Executive in Contract Dispute
The 2nd District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles on Tuesday ruled that California-based Tenet Healthcare must pay $253 million to a former executive for failure to honor a compensation contract in 1993, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Los Angeles County Latinos Receive a ‘C’ Grade in Health, Study Finds
Latinos in Los Angeles County received a grade of “C” for health, according to a United Way of Greater Los Angeles study released on Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
California Prison Officials Examine Treatment Options for Inmates With Mental Illnesses
About 20% of California’s 160,000 prison inmates and about 22% of its 4,500 wards have mental illnesses, according to state officials, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
CMS Announces 2004 Cut of 4.5% in Medicare’s Physician Reimbursements
CMS Administrator Tom Scully on Thursday announced that the agency will reduce Medicare’s physician reimbursements by 4.5% in 2004, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Contra Costa Times Series Examines County Health Care Districts
The Contra Costa Times this week examined the current role of three hospital districts created to run Contra Costa County hospitals in the 1950s and some critics’ calls to dissolve one or more of them.
Increased Health Benefits Costs Affect Employer Hiring
NPR’s “Morning Edition” on Friday reported on how the increased cost of health benefits has prompted some employers not to hire new employees.
Wildfires in Southern California have produced “dangerously high levels of air pollutants” in the past week, but health and emergency medical officials have reported fewer emergency room visits for respiratory problems than expected, the Los Angeles Times reports.