Latest California Healthline Stories
Arizona Republic Reports on Indian Health Service
The Arizona Republic yesterday reported on the state of health care for Native Americans, who have a mortality rate up to seven times higher than that of other Americans, as well as higher rates of disease.
New Bills Would Limit Sales of Dietary Supplements to Minors
Amid “growing concerns” over the health risks of dietary supplements for teenagers, lawmakers have introduced several bills in the Legislature that would limit the sale of some supplements to minors, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Urban Institute Examines Recent Health Policies for Low-Income California Residents
The Urban Institute has released a report describing the status of health care financing in California.
CalPERS Receives 2003 Bids Seeking Premium Increases Up to 41%
CalPERS announced last week that it has received bids from health plans for 2003 that contain premium price increases as high as 41.1%, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Scully Will Testify Before Committee, Thompson Says
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson “promised” yesterday that CMS Administrator Tom Scully, who on Wednesday defied a congressional subpoena to appear before the House Small Business Committee, will testify before the committee, Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor Midday Update reports.
PacifiCare Licenses Rx-Connect Handheld Device to Five Southern California Medical Groups
PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. has announced that it will license its handheld, wireless electronic prescription technology, Rx-Connect, to five medical groups in Southern California.
Wall Street Journal Examines Debate Over State Soda Tax Proposal
The Wall Street Journal today examines the debate over imposing a excise tax in California on soda and other sweetened drinks, an proposal that is “winning plaudits from public health organizations” concerned about rising rates of childhood obesity” but is “already roiling the soft-drink industry.”
Smoking Costs Society $7 Per Pack of Cigarettes, CDC Finds
Every pack of cigarettes sold in the United States costs the country more than $7 in medical care and lost productivity, according to a new CDC study, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
HIAA Distances Itself from Reunderwriting Practice
The Health Insurance Association of America is distancing itself from American Medical Security Group Inc.’s practice of annually reunderwriting individual health insurance policies, CongressDaily reports.
‘Medi-Vans’ Provide Free Care to Children Through San Ysidro Health Center Project
Two “medi-vans” have begun to provide health care services to children in Chula Vista as part of a one-year project administered by the San Ysidro Health Center, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.