Latest California Healthline Stories
Fresno Bee Examines Local Shortage of Child Psychiatrists
The Fresno Bee yesterday examined the shortage of child psychiatrists in the Central Valley and its impact on children’s access to mental health services.
House Passes Bill To Create Department of Homeland Security
The House on Friday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would merge 22 federal entities into a new Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security, the Washington Post reports.
California Healthline stated in the Medicare prescription drug benefit story on Friday that AARP officials said the group could “support a ‘slimmed-down’ Medicare drug benefit that provides assistance for low-income beneficiaries.” In fact, AARP would support a slimmed-down benefit if it contained catastrophic coverage and a discount card component in addition to covering low-income beneficiaries.
Researchers at the University of California-San Francisco studying experimental breathing techniques violated federal patients’ rights guidelines by improperly obtaining consent, according to federal investigators, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bankruptcy Court Judge Allows Health Plan of the Redwoods To Hire Financial Consultant
Health Plan of the Redwoods received permission on Thursday from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Alan Jaroslovsky to hire Phoenix HealthCare Consulting to assist with a financial reorganization plan due in two months.
Senate To Debate Legislation To Cap Medical Malpractice Awards
The Senate on Tuesday is scheduled to debate an amendment to a generic drug bill (S 812) that would cap medical malpractice awards in lawsuits against doctors and insurance companies, CongressDaily reports.
Audioconference Scheduled To Discuss Responses to Rising Health Care Costs
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the National Business Coalition on Health, and the Pacific Business Group on Health announced Friday that a live, 90-minute audioconference on employer and health plan responses to rising health care costs will take place on July 30.
Some States May Cut Back AIDS Drug Assistance Programs
Many state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs are “going broke” during a “slumping economy” and the arrival of newer, more costly AIDS medicines, and the lack of funds has forced many states to implement a variety of cost-control measures, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Low-Cost ‘Cross-Border’ Health Plans Promoted as Means to Reduce Number of Uninsured
The Los Angeles Times today reports on “cross-border” health plans, which offer coverage to Latinos who travel from the United States to Mexico for health care.
Washington Post Looks at Bush Administration Efforts To ‘Repair’ Medicare+Choice
The Washington Post today examines the Bush administration’s efforts to “repair” the Medicare+Choice program, which is “widely judged to have failed.”