Latest California Healthline Stories
PacifiCare, Health Net To Reduce Medicare+Choice Coverage in Northern California
Two HMOs announced this week that they will reduce their coverage under the Medicare+Choice program in Northern California, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Health Advocates Testify Against Los Angeles County Hospital Closings
Hospital workers, patients and elected officials on Thursday asked the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Commission to encourage the Board of Supervisors to expand emergency care rather than carry out reductions proposed to alleviate a budget deficit expected to reach about $800 million in three years, the Los Angeles Times reports.
New San Jose Clinic Criticized for Advertising Unapproved MRI Test for Breast Cancer
A new clinic in San Jose opened by AmeriScan — known for its “controversial and aggressively advertised” full-body scans — is offering $2,200 magnetic resonance imaging testing for breast cancer and “drawing outrage” from activists and experts who claim a $100 mammogram is just as effective, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Insurer Consider Dropping Coverage of Claritin Rivals if Drug Becomes Available OTC
If Scherling-Plough’s blockbuster allergy drug Claritin becomes available over-the-counter, health insurers such as UnitedHealth, Humana and WellPoint Health Newtorks might cut coverage for rival drugs in the same class, including Zyrtec, Allegra and Clarinex, Reuters/Chicago Tribune reports.
House Subcommittee Approves Bill Seeking To Reduce Medical Errors Through Voluntary Reporting
The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee yesterday approved by voice vote a “controversial” bill (HR 4889) that would establish “private health data banks” to store confidential medical error information and help identify ways to avoid future errors, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Lawmakers Could Add Health Spending Measures to Senate Medicare ‘Giveback’ Bill
Congressional members and aides expect that a variety of health care funding measures will be added to a package that the Senate Finance Committee is working on to boost payments to Medicare providers, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Santa Cruz Leaders, Advocates To Distribute Free Medical Marijuana at City Hall on Sept. 17
Some Santa Cruz city leaders and advocates plan to distribute free medical merijuana at City Hall on Sept. 17 to “send a message to federal authorities that … medical marijuana is welcome” in California, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports.
Cigarette Makers Claim Anti-Smoking Ads from the Department of Health Bias Juries
Tobacco companies R.J. Reynolds and Phillip Morris are blaming an aggressive anti-smoking advertising campaign by the Department of Health Services for a string of defeats in lawsuits in California, saying that the ads are biasing jurors, the Wall Street Journal reports.
McClellan Nomination as FDA Commissioner Delayed by Medicare Rx Drug Debate
Negotiations between the White House and Congress over a Medicare prescription drug benefit and increases in reimbursements to Medicare providers may delay the nomination of White House health policy adviser Mark McClellan as FDA commissioner, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Some Prescription Copays Higher Than Actual Price of Drug, Wall Street Journal reports
Some copayments for prescription drugs are higher than pharmacy benefit managers actually pay for the medications, the Wall Street Journal reports.