Latest California Healthline Stories
Frist Calls Medicare Program ‘Antiquated,’ Says It Cannot Sustain Itself
In an interview with the Tennessean editorial board Friday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said that Medicare is an “antiquated system” that cannot sustain itself in the current health care market, especially with the number of baby boomers about to enter the system, the Tennessean reports.
San Francisco Chronicle Examines ‘Dual Epidemic’ of Crystal Meth Use, HIV Infection
Crystal methamphetamine use among gay and bisexual men has “reached epidemic proportions,” and health officials have linked the increased use of the drug — a powerful form of speed — with an increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases among men who have sex with men, the San Francisco Chronicle reports in the first part of a three-part series on the drug.
Health Coverage at Center of Janitor Contract Negotiations
Service Employees International Union Local 1877 representing Los Angeles janitors, which sought to maintain full health care coverage for its 9,000 members and their families in addition to wage increases, reached a tentative agreement Thursday morning with janitorial contractors that is expected to avert a strike, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Many California Patients, Physicians Unaware of HMO Independent Review Program
Many managed care patients and physicians in California are unaware of the state program that allows patients to appeal the decisions of their health plans, according to a report issued last week by the California HealthCare Foundation, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Tenet Healthcare Reaches Agreement With Two Nurses Unions
Officials from Tenet Healthcare, the nation’s second-largest hospital chain, on Friday announced an agreement with two unions that will provide nurses and other employees of Tenet hospitals in California and Florida with a 29% wage increase over the next four years, Knight-Ridder/Orange County Register reports.
Foothill Psychiatric Facility Violated Patient Rights, Report Says
Employees at the Foothill Health and Rehabilitation Center, a private psychiatric facility, violated patient privacy rights, conducted room searches without patient permission, stole money and personal property from patients and treated the patients with disrespect, according to a Los Angeles County reported released on Friday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Legislature Approves $3.6 Billion Package of Budget Cuts
As expected, the Legislature yesterday approved a fiscal year 2003-2004 budget package that would reduce state expenditures by $3.6 billion by borrowing against state pension funds and cutting spending for some state programs, including Medi-Cal, the Los Angeles Times reports.
House Subcommittee Discusses Possibility of Medigap Reform
During a hearing yesterday, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health discussed Medigap, which supplements Medicare coverage, but was unable to reach on consensus on how to reform the program, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Davis Proposes Workers’ Compensation System Reform
Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday announced support for legislative proposals that he said would lower by at least $1.5 billion the estimated $15 billion to $20 billion annual cost of California’s workers’ compensation system, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Cigna To Stop Offering Individual Health Insurance Policies in California
Cigna Healthcare of California on April 1 stopped offering new individual health insurance policies and on Oct. 31 will stop renewing existing individual policies, pending state approval, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.