Latest California Healthline Stories
Shalala Responds to Bush’s Proposed Reforms to Federal Medical Privacy Regulations
Pointing to a federal medical privacy regulation change proposed by the Bush administration that would eliminate the requirement that providers, insurers and pharmacies obtain written consent from patients before disclosing their medical records, former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala writes in a New York Times opinion piece that she hopes the administration will “try to craft an alternative that retains the concept of patient consent and still allows providers, under certain conditions, to begin treatment before obtaining consent.”
New Medicare Policy Prevents ‘Automatic’ Denial of Reimbursement for Some Alzheimer’s Treatments
Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s disease can no longer “automatically be denied” reimbursement for the cost of some treatments, according to a Bush administration policy that “quietly” went into effect in December, the Washington Post reports.
Lawmakers Consider Imposing ‘Sin Tax’ on Soda, Alcohol and Tobacco
The Los Angeles Times on Saturday examined measures proposed in the Legislature that would impose “sin taxes” on soda, alcohol and tobacco.
San Francisco Chronicle Profiles Kaiser’s David Lawrence
The San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday profiled Dr. David Lawrence, CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, who is retiring May 1 after 10 years in the position.
California Endowment Funds $10M Program to Recruit Minority Nurses
The California Endowment on Wednesday launched a three-year, $10 million program that will work with educational, health care and marketing organizations to increase the number of minority nurses in the Central Valley, the Fresno Bee reports.
U.S. Retail Prescription Drug Spending Increased More Than 17% in 2001, Study Finds
U.S. prescription drug spending rose more than 17% in 2001, driven largely by several “heavily advertised, high-priced” treatments, according to a study released yesterday by the National Institute for Health Care Management.
Federal Health Officials Address Questions About Mass Vaccination for Smallpox
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, at a press conference yesterday addressed the debate over whether the smallpox vaccine should be made available to the public for mass vaccinations, the New York Times reports.
Justice Department Investigates Whether Pfizer Overcharged State Medicaid Programs for Lipitor
The Department of Justice is investigating whether Pfizer Inc. in 1999 and 2000 overcharged state-run Medicaid programs for its cholesterol treatment Lipitor, according to the company’s annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Wall Street Journal reports.
San Francisco Superior Court Commissioner Loretta Norris has ordered Ronald Hill, a former San Francisco health commissioner, to pay his ex-lover $5 million in damages for knowingly exposing him to HIV and lying about his own HIV status, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Catholic Healthcare West Names Southwest Division President as New COO
San Francisco-based Catholic Healthcare West has appointed Michael Erne to the newly established position of chief operating officer, the Sacramento Bee reports.