Latest California Healthline Stories
Death Rate from Influenza Virus Increased ‘Markedly’ in 1990s, CDC Study Finds
The death rate from influenza increased “markedly” during the 1990s because a greater proportion of the population is elderly and thus “particularly susceptible” to the virus, the New York Times reports.
KQED’s ‘Health Dialogues’ Program To Examine Childhood Obesity in California
KQED’s “Health Dialogues,” a live, monthly call-in program sponsored by the California Endowment to examine health care issues in the state, tonight will examine childhood nutrition and obesity.
NIH Awards Contract to Eclipsys To Develop Clinical Research Information System
Officials at Eclipsys yesterday announced that NIH has awarded the Florida-based health care information technology company a “multimillion dollar” contract to develop and implement a clinical research information system at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, the NIH research hospital, and the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center, currently under construction.
State May Close ‘Long-Troubled’ Burlingame Nursing Home
If state officials continue to have problems finding a buyer for the “long-troubled” Burlingame Healthcare Center, the state may have to close the nursing home, potentially “scatter[ing]” its 192 residents across the state, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Abbott To Offer Arthritis Drug Free to Seniors Without Prescription Drug Coverage
Officials at Abbott Laboratories yesterday announced that the company will offer the rheumatoid arthritis treatment Humira at no cost to Medicare beneficiaries without prescription drug coverage, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Tenet To Voluntarily Reduce Medicare Outlier Payments by $700 Million Per Year
In anticipation of new CMS regulations, Tenet Healthcare, the nation’s second largest for-profit hospital chain, announced yesterday that it will voluntarily reduce the amount of money it charges Medicare per year by $700 million, the Wall Street Journal reports.
State Should Improve Efforts to Provide Health Coverage for Low-Income Infants, Advocate Writes
“Byzantine” state regulations on infant enrollment in Medi-Cal have led to a “baby gap,” in which most low-income infants in the state lack health insurance, Lucy Quacinella, a consultant with Maternal and Child Health Access, writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece.
Wall Street Journal Looks at Physician Advice Web Sites
The Wall Street Journal today profiles several new, free or low-cost Internet sites that attempt to provide personal answers to patients’ basic health care questions.
Bush Expected To Request Lower Funding Increases for NIH Because of Budget Deficit
Congress may not meet a request by President Bush that would increase the NIH budget to more than $27 billion for fiscal year 2003 — double the 1998 level — as a result of the increased federal budget deficit, and the agency may “only get a tiny raise” under the president’s FY 2004 budget proposal, the Wall Street Journal reports.
California Healthline Examines Economic Stimulus Plans, Congressional Health Care Agendas
In response to President Bush’s anticipated economic stimulus plan, House Democrats have released their own plan, which would cut taxes for families and businesses and would provide some aid to states for Medicaid, the Washington Times reports.