Latest California Healthline Stories
Legislative Analyst’s Report Outlines Possible Budget Cuts, Including Cuts in Some Health Services
Legislative Analyst Liz Hill issued a report yesterday offering lawmakers a series of recommendations for reducing the state’s $12.4 billion projected deficit in 2003, including some budget cuts for health programs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Los Angeles County Supervisors Approve $3.5M for Anti-Tobacco Campaigns
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved $3.5 million to establish anti-smoking programs, despite concerns that the funds should be used to stave off the county health department’s “looming” $1 billion deficit, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Health Net Plans to Reinstate Medicare+Choice Coverage in San Mateo County
Officials from Health Net of California announced yesterday plans to reinstate Medicare+Choice coverage for 2,800 Medicare beneficiaries in northern San Mateo County, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
HHS Secretary Given Power to Classify Information
Recognizing HHS’ role in fighting bioterrorism, President Bush has granted the secretary of the agency the authority to classify information as secret, the New York Times reports.
Stimulus Debate Indicates Return of ‘Health Care Wars’
The “deadlock” in Congress over the economic stimulus bill indicates that the “health care wars have returned with a vengeance,” the New York Times reports in a news analysis.
House Passes Revised Economic Stimulus Bill
The House passed an economic stimulus bill proposed by House Republican leaders on a 224-193 vote early this morning after a debate that lasted until about 4 a.m. ET, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Delay in Healthy Families Waiver Approval a ‘Disgrace,’ Chronicle Says
With a full year having passed since California submitted its waiver request to the federal government to expand Healthy Families coverage to parents, many state officials are wondering “[w]hat on earth .. is holding up [approval of] the waiver,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial says.
House Passes $123B Labor-HHS Bill; Senate Votes Today
The House yesterday approved the compromise fiscal year 2002 Labor-HHS appropriations bill which allocates $123 billion for health, labor and education programs, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Lawmakers To Introduce a Bill Requiring Age Verification for Online Cigarette Purchases
California lawmakers in January will introduce legislation that would require online sites that sell cigarettes to verify the ages of purchasers, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
New Medicare Database Expected to Streamline Eligibility
CMS will launch a comprehensive database next month that will allow health care providers to verify Medicare beneficiaries coverage from any location in the country, Federal Computer Week reports.