Latest California Healthline Stories
San Francisco Chronicle Endorses Bill Limiting Mandatory Arbitration System
A Senate-passed bill that would end the practice of mandatory arbitration by health plans in certain cases is needed to “level the field” between “highly organized” insurers, which “set rules for handling complaints, and patients, who have no leverage with arbitrators beholden to the HMOs,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial states.
IBM Reaches 10-Year Agreement to Process Health Insurance Claims for Empire Blue Cross
IBM Corp. yesterday announced a 10-year agreement to process health insurance claims for New York-based Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, one of the nation’s largest Blue Cross companies, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Fast Food Now Available at Many of the Nation’s ‘Top’ Hospitals, Survey Shows
Although health professionals often attribute “high-fat, high-calorie fast food” to the increasing number of overweight and obese Americans, more than 33% of the nation’s leading hospitals have fast food restaurants on their premises, according to a new survey.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has issued a permanent injunction that requires three Northern California medical marijuana cooperatives to “immediately halt distribution” of the drug, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Cost of Providing Care to Undocumented Immigrants Rising, New Survey Finds
Public hospitals nationwide, “especially along the nation’s borders,” are facing increased costs from providing care to undocumented immigrants, according to a new survey by the National Association of Counties.
Sonoma County Doctors File Motion to End Contracts with Health Plan of the Redwoods
Sixteen Sonoma County doctors have filed motions with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Rosa, seeking to be released from their contractual obligations with Health Plan of the Redwoods, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Bush, First Lady Launch Initiative to Boost Nation’s Physical Fitness Levels
Hoping to motivate the estimated 50% of U.S. adults who do not exercise “at all,” President Bush and first lady Laura Bush next week will launch a new exercise initiative, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Florida Pharmacy Board Proposes Rule to Reduce Online Prescription Drug Sales Without an Examination
The Florida Board of Pharmacy introduced a rule on Tuesday that would require online pharmacies to verify that physicians had physically examined patients before writing prescriptions for them, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
House Democrats to Announce $750B Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Plan
As expected, Senate Democrats unveiled a Medicare prescription drug benefit plan yesterday, while their House counterparts prepared to release their own proposal today, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Lawmaker to Introduce Bill to Require Teams to Test Professional Athletes for Steroid Use
Sen. Don Perata (D-Oakland) plans to introduce a bill today that would require professional athletic associations with teams that compete in California to develop plans to test players for steroid use, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.