Latest California Healthline Stories
Los Angeles County To Eliminate Jobs at Martin Luther King Jr.-Drew Medical Center
The Los Angeles County public health system will eliminate 79 physician, 152 nursing and 210 administrative positions at Martin Luther King Jr.-Drew Medical Center by June 30 as part of a 16% budget cut over the next three years, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging To Increase Skilled Nursing Beds by 30%
The Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda will add 249 beds to increase its skilled-nursing beds by 30% under a $52 million construction project, officials announced Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Medical Board Formally Accuses Redding Medical Center Physician of Multiple Violations
The Medical Board of California yesterday formally accused cardiologist Dr. Chae Hyun Moon, one of two physicians at Redding Medical Center under federal investigation, of gross negligence, incompetence, dishonest or corrupt acts and false or fraudulent claims, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Senators To Announce Compromise on Bill To Improve Access to Generic Drugs
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), today are expected to announce compromise legislation designed to allow lower-cost generic drugs to more quickly reach the market, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Federal Government Fraud Recovery Rates Differ for Medicare, Medicaid, Studies Find
The federal government recovers 20 times more money from prosecuting Medicare fraud cases than from prosecuting Medicaid fraud cases, according to two studies released yesterday by the Taxpayers Against Fraud, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Ventura County Board of Supervisors Agrees to Negotiations With Santa Paula Hospital
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors yesterday voted 5-0 to begin negotiations to bring Santa Paula Memorial Hospital into the county’s heath care system in an attempt to save the financially “struggling” facility, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Senate Finance Committee Members Begin To Draft New Medicare Reform Proposal
Several members of the Senate Finance Committee have begun drafting a Medicare reform proposal that would increase use of private health plans and would give an equal drug benefit to all beneficiaries, regardless of whether they join a private plan, the Washington Post reports.
Antelope Valley Hospital Files Lawsuit To Stop High Desert Hospital Conversion
As expected, not-for-profit Antelope Valley Hospital on Monday filed a federal lawsuit to stop Los Angeles County from closing inpatient services at High Desert Hospital in Lancaster, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Language Difficulties Impede Quality HMO Care, Study Says
Language and communication difficulties are a barrier to receiving quality health care through an HMO both for English and non-English speakers, according to a study released last week by the Office of the Patient Advocate, the Stockton Record reports.
Surgeon General Richard Carmona Supports Ban on Tobacco Products
Surgeon General Richard Carmona yesterday told members of the House Energy and Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee that he supports “banning or abolishing tobacco products,” the Washington Post reports.