Latest California Healthline Stories
1 in 3 ERs Forced to Divert Ambulances, AHA Study Finds
One-third of U.S. emergency rooms are so crowded that they must periodically divert ambulances to other hospitals, according to a study released yesterday by the American Hospital Association, the AP/New York Times reports.
Ventura County Officials Agree to Provide Mental Health Care for Teenager in Camarillo
Averting a “legal showdown,” Ventura County officials agreed yesterday to provide mental health services to a teenager who had been denied care, the Los Angeles Times reports.
26% Of Medicaid Beneficiaries Go Without Prescriptions, Study Finds
As states move to decrease drug spending by imposing greater restrictions on Medicaid beneficiaries, a new study has found that one out of four beneficiaries was unable to purchase a prescription drug in the last year because of cost, the New York Times reports
Wall Street Journal Profiles Practice of Insurance Reunderwriting
The Wall Street Journal today profiles Wisconsin-based insurer American Medical Security Group Inc. and its practice of annually reunderwriting individual health insurance policies.
Supermarket Chain to Launch New Online Prescription System
Giant Food Inc., a supermarket chain based in Landover, Md., plans to launch a new system that allows doctors to write and send prescriptions to Giant pharmacies online via personal computers, cellular phones and other communications devices, the Washington Post reports.
Maryland Legislators OK ‘Strict Conditions’ for Carefirst/WellPoint Deal
Maryland lawmakers last night approved legislation setting such “strict conditions” for the sale of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield to Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks that CareFirst may end up “scuttling the deal,” the Washington Post reports.
Transplanted Adult Stem Cells Reduce Symptoms in San Clemente Man with Parkinson’s Disease
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in a California man have “largely disappeared” after doctors removed stem cells from his brain, grew them into neurons and transplanted the neurons back into his brain, the Washington Post reports.
Texas Doctors Strike to Protest Malpractice Insurance Rates
Hundreds of physicians in South Texas rallied or went on a one-day strike yesterday to protest rising medical malpractice insurance rates, which they say could force them out of business, the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Medicare Rx Drug Benefit Issue Resurfaces After Hiatus
Increased prescription drug costs and election-year politics have moved the debate over a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries — an issue “put on hold” after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon — “back on the front pages,” the New York Times reports.
Bush Administration Introduces New Voluntary Ergonomics Policy
As expected, the Bush administration on Friday unveiled a new initiative to protect workers from repetitive-stress injuries by asking companies to meet voluntary new safety guidelines, the New York Times reports.