Latest California Healthline Stories
Nursing Schools Nationwide Lack Resources, Turn Away Potential Students
As hospitals nationwide face a growing nursing shortage, colleges and universities are being forced to turn away thousands of qualified nursing students because of a lack of space and funding, the AP/New York Times reports.
Health Insurance Fraud Hurts Insurers, Patients, Columnist Says
Medical insurance fraud hurts both insurers and patients, as insurers spend time and money investigating fraudulent claims and patients might end up being denied or paying more for health coverage because of false information on medical records, Trudy Lieberman writes in a Los Angeles Times Health Matters column.
Bankruptcy Court Judge Approves Health Plan of the Redwoods Liquidation Plan
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Alan Jaroslovsky on Friday approved a final liquidation plan for Health Plan of the Redwoods, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
CalPERS Begins Investigation Into Tenet Healthcare Billing Practices
CalPERS officials have asked Blue Cross of California to investigate whether the pension fund paid “too much” for certain services or unnecessary surgeries at several Tenet Healthcare hospitals statewide, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Some Biotech Industry Executives Raise Concerns About FDA Reorganization
A decision by the FDA to transfer oversight of biotechnology treatments to the same division that oversees traditional medications could “lead to an exodus of top regulators from the agency,” raising concerns among some biotech industry executives, the New York Times reports.
Registered Nurses at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Vote To Join California Nurses Association
Registered nurses at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the largest private hospital in California, last week voted to join the California Nurses Association in a “major victory” for organized labor in Southern California, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rx Drug Prices To Rise 19% in 2003, Insurer Survey Finds
Prescription drug prices will rise 19% in 2003, a situation that could add fuel to the debate over a Medicare drug benefit, according to a survey of 60 major insurers, the Hartford Courant reports.
Republicans’ Health Care Agenda Faces Several Challenges
Responding to the “escalating crisis in health care,” Republicans, who will assume control of Congress next year, are drafting a health care agenda that would “drastically reshape” how health care services are delivered, Gannett News/Detroit News reports.
Gore Announces Decision Not To Run for President in 2004
Former Vice President Al Gore (D) said yesterday that he will not run for president in 2004, the Washington Post reports.
Bush Announces National Smallpox Vaccination Plan
As expected, President Bush on Friday announced a national smallpox vaccination plan under which about 500,000 military personnel and as many as 10 million emergency and health care workers will receive the vaccine, the Washington Post reports.