Latest California Healthline Stories
CIO Features Guide to Compliance With HIPAA Security Rule
An article in the current issue of CIO looks at how health care organizations can begin preparations for the HIPAA security rule, which takes effect in 2005.
Davis Orders Job Cuts, Hiring Freeze as Part of Effort To Pass Budget
As part of an effort to pass a state budget plan, Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday issued two executive orders to eliminate all unfilled state positions and extend a freeze on hiring new state employees for two years, but the hiring freeze would not apply to most public health workers, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Assembly Committee Approves Bill To Ban Soda Sales in Schools
The Assembly Health Committee yesterday voted to approve a bill (SB 677) that would ban the sale of carbonated drinks in California schools after the bill’s author agreed not to extend the ban to high school campuses, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson Details Plans for National Electronic Medical Record System
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson yesterday unveiled two steps that will facilitate plans to build a national electronic system that will give insurance companies, hospitals and physicians access to patients’ medical files, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Senate Committee Approves Bill To Expand Health Benefits for Registered Domestic Partners
The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday approved a bill (AB 205) that would expand legal, financial, employment and health benefits to same-sex, registered domestic partners, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Study Finds High Use of Feeding Tubes in Nursing Home Patients With Dementia
About one-third of nursing home patients in the United States with advanced Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia are given feeding tubes, despite evidence that the tubes have no health benefits and could even be harmful, according to a study in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Kaiser Foundation Health Plan’s Binding Arbitration System
The Los Angeles Times yesterday examined reforms intended to improve the arbitration system used by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to resolve legal disputes outside of court.
Legislature Fails To Pass Budget by Deadline; Medi-Cal Provider Payments in Jeopardy
The Legislature has failed to pass a state budget before the July 1 deadline imposed by the state Constitution for the third consecutive year, possibly jeopardizing some Medi-Cal payments, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.
Wall Street Journal Looks at State of Health Care Information Technology
The United States is “woefully backward” in its use of information technology in health care, but several initiatives could help improve the nation’s health care IT systems, the Wall Street Journal reports.
St. Agnes Medical Center Renews Medi-Cal Contracts With State, Blue Cross
Last-minute negotiations at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno yielded a new Medi-Cal contract with the state and a contract with Blue Cross of California for Medi-Cal managed care plans administered by the insurer before both contracts expired yesterday, the Fresno Bee reports.