Latest California Healthline Stories
Legislative Committee to Draft Legislation to Reform State Medical Board
The Joint Legislative Sunset Review Committee yesterday voted 4-1 to draft a bill that would require the Medical Board of California to report more information about doctors who have settled malpractice claims, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Daschle Introduces Amendment That Would Provide Health Care Benefits for Trade-Displaced Workers
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) yesterday introduced an amendment that would provide health benefits to American workers displaced by international trade and to retired steel workers who lost health coverage as a result of their companies’ bankruptcies, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Los Angles County health officials yesterday said that they plan to recommend converting two of the system’s hospitals into clinics and laying off thousands of employees to reduce an expected $360 million budget deficit next year, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Citing Health Concerns, Senate Education Committee Approves Student Physical Education Bill
Legislation seeking to improve children’s health by improving physical education and fitness requirements passed the Senate Education Committee yesterday, the Contra Costa Times reports.
GOP, Democrats Unveil Rival Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Proposals
As expected, members of Congress yesterday outlined rival proposals to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, the Washington Post reports.
National Journal Examines American Medical Association’s ‘Identity Crisis’
The current issue of National Journal examines the “identity crisis” at the American Medical Association, which is considering restructuring as its membership base declines and its political power wanes.
A draft version of an emerging House Republican Medicare reform proposal shows that Medicare+Choice plans would be the “big winners” under the legislation while hospitals would take the “biggest hit,” CongressDaily/AM reports.
California May Be Best Option to Implement Single-Payer System, Advocates Say
Amid increasing health insurance premiums, “dwindling benefits” and a growing number of uninsured residents, advocates of a single-payer health system say that California “stands the best chance of making it happen,” PRI’s “Marketplace” reports.
PacifiCare Posts First-Quarter Loss on Charge But Sees Boost in Operating Profit
PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. announced yesterday that it lost $858.8 million in the first quarter following a $897 million charge that “overshadowed an improvement in operating earnings,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Number of Individuals Who Search for Health Information Online Has Doubled Since 1998, Report Finds
The number of Americans who search for health information online has more than doubled since 1998, according to a new report released by HarrisInteractive.