Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate Unanimously Approves Nomination of Mark McClellan as FDA Commissioner
The Senate yesterday on a voice vote unanimously confirmed Dr. Mark McClellan as FDA commissioner, a position that has been vacant since President Bush took office, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Justice Department Reaches $5.4M Settlement with Seven Hospitals over Medicare Fraud Charges
The Department of Justice yesterday announced that seven hospitals will pay more than $5.4 million to settle claims alleging they “improperly billed” Medicare for medical procedures performed using experimental cardiac devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators.
Misdiagnosis, Statistical Flaws Not a Factor in Rise in State Autism Diagnoses, Study Finds
A “significant” increase in state autism cases that was first reported by researchers in 1999 cannot be attributed to statistical flaws, coincidence, relaxed diagnostic criteria or population shifts, according to a new study released yesterday, Bloomberg/Orange County Register reports.
First 5 Santa Clara County Commission Approves $1 Million Donation to Healthy Kids
The First 5 Santa Clara County Commission, which distributes revenue from from Proposition 10, the 1998 ballot measure that levied a 50-cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes, this week approved a $1 million donation to the Healthy Kids plan to provide health insurance to about 900 county children ages five and younger and improve outreach and education efforts, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
San Francisco Business Times Profiles New Blue Cross ‘Consumer-Driven’ Health Plan
The San Francisco Business Times last week profiled Power HealthFund PPO, a new “consumer-driven” health plan that Blue Cross of California will begin to offer this month to California employers with 500 or more employees.
Health Insurers Must Be Cautious With Plans To Shift Costs to Consumers, Sacramento Bee Says
In response to rising health care costs, HMOs are “busily reinventing themselves,” but that is not always a “healthy thing,” according to a Sacramento Bee editorial.
AARP Launches Ad Campaign Encouraging Voters To Consider Candidates’ Medicare Rx Drug Benefit Stance
AARP today will launch a two-week, $4 million national ad campaign designed to encourage seniors to consider candidates’ positions on a Medicare prescription drug benefit when voting this in this November’s elections, Long Island Newsday reports.
Federal Advisory Panel Makes Final Recommendation on Smallpox Vaccination Policy
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices yesterday recommended offering the smallpox vaccine to 510,000 emergency room and other hospital employees, a shift from its June recommendation to vaccinate between 10,000 and 20,000 health care workers, the New York Times reports.
San Diego City Council Committee Approves Guidelines for Medical Marijuana Use
A San Diego City Council committee yesterday approved guidelines for medical marijuana use, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Baucus’ Attempt To Move Senate ‘Giveback’ Bill Directly to Floor Fails Again
For the second time in two weeks, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) yesterday requested unanimous consent to send a $44 billion Medicare provider “giveback” bill directly to the Senate floor, but Senate Minority Whip Don Nickles (R-Okla.) objected to the move, CongressDaily/AM reports.