Latest California Healthline Stories
Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday said in his State of the State address that the state will have to make “severe cuts” in some services, such as health care, to address an estimated $34.8 billion budget deficit, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) Plans To Address Racial Disparities in Health Care
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said yesterday at a news conference to outline the legislative agenda for Senate Republicans this year that he will work to reduce racial disparities in the U.S. health care system, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Hospital Representatives Lobby Lawmakers for Increased Medicare Reimbursements
Hospital representatives lobbied lawmakers yesterday to increase Medicare payments for hospitals and other providers, CongressDaily reports.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Settles Lawsuits Over Allegedly Blocking Generic Versions of BuSpar, Taxol
Bristol-Myers Squibb yesterday announced that it has agreed to pay $670 million to settle lawsuits filed by state attorneys general, consumer groups and generic drug companies alleging that the company illegally delayed generic competition for anxiety drug BuSpar and cancer drug Taxol, the New York Times reports.
Attorney General Lockyer Files Suit Against Abbott, Wyeth Alleging They Overcharge Medi-Cal
Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against drug companies Abbott and Wyeth, alleging that both firms conducted “grossly excessive, unreasonable and unlawful” inflation of drug prices and as a result increased costs in Medi-Cal, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Lawsuits Filed Against Sacramento-Area Hospitals Allege Inadequate Infection Control
More than two dozen lawsuits have been filed against hospitals in the Sacramento area in the last six months alleging that the facilities were negligent in their infection control procedures, leading to increased hospital stays, worsened health and higher hospital bills, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) Introduces Bill To Cancel Medicare Physician Payment Cut
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) yesterday introduced a bill that would cancel a scheduled 4.4% reduction in Medicare reimbursements for physicians, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Sen. Torlakson To Introduce Three Bills To Encourage Healthy Habits in Schools
Sen. Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) plans to introduce three bills to encourage healthier nutrition and exercise habits in schools, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Health Care Spending Reached Record Level of Growth in 2001, Annual CMS Report Finds
Fostered by increased utilization of hospital services and prescription drugs, along with the “declining influence” of managed care, U.S. health care spending in 2001 rose 8.7% — the fastest rate in a decade, according to government data, the New York Times reports.
Butte County Blue Cross HMO Members May Have To Switch Plans After Closure of Physician Group
As many as 4,000 Blue Cross of California HMO members in Butte County could lose access to their health care providers as a result of the scheduled closure of Chico-based Sierra Valley Medical Group, a local physician group that contracted with the HMO, on Feb. 1, the Chico Enterprise-Record reports.