Latest California Healthline Stories
Zingale to Face Contempt Charges for $1.1M Fine Levied Against Kaiser Permanente
A federal court has ordered Department of Managed Health Care Director Daniel Zingale to appear on charges of contempt after the department last year levied a $1.1 million fine against Kaiser Permanente based in part on the death of a Medicare beneficiary, which may have violated federal law, the Sacramento Bee reports.
California Continues to Prioritize Health Safety Net Programs, DHS Director Says
Although faced with a “health care crisis,” an economic downturn and the threat of bioterrorism, California’s “resolve to provide a safety net of services for those most in need” has not “lessened,” Diana Bonta, director of the Department of Health Services, writes in a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece.
CMS to Broadcast Video Explaining HIPAA Administrative Simplifications, Privacy Rule
CMS tomorrow will broadcast via satellite a 60-minute video providing an overview of the administrative simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
NCI Report Cites Dangers in Low-Tar Cigarette Use
Cigarettes marketed as “low tar,” “light” and “ultralight” are equally as “dangerous” as regular cigarettes according to a new report by the National Cancer Institute released yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Health Affairs Paper Calls For New Medicare+Choice Payment Structure
As Congress considers whether to once again increase payments to Medicare+Choice plans, it should ignore recent recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the leadership of the House Ways and Means Committee to enact “payment equality” between Medicare HMOs and the Medicare fee-for-service program at the local level, Robert Berenson writes in a paper published today on the Health Affairs Web site.
Senate Democrats Postpone Debate on Human Cloning Ban
Senate Democratic leaders yesterday blocked an effort by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) to force a vote during this legislative session on a bill to ban all forms of human cloning, Reuters/New York Times reports.
AMA Launches Web Site to Document Physicians’ Health Plan Complaints
The American Medical Association Monday launched a Web site that will allow physicians to register the problems they experience with managed care, including delayed and denied payments and “unfair” contract practices.
Ridge Announces Plans to Create a Health-Data Network to Help Fight Bioterrorism
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge yesterday announced plans for the creation of a “central clearinghouse” that would coordinate federal, state and local health officials’ response to a bioterrorist attack.
Some Lawmakers Want to Block Bush Medicaid Loophole Rule
Members of Congress from both chambers and both parties are “vowing to block or at least delay” a proposed rule announced by the Bush administration last week to phase out the Medicaid loophole, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Senate Republicans Proposes Compromise on Stimulus Bill
Senate Republicans yesterday proposed a compromise economic stimulus plan that includes provisions to extend unemployment benefits and help unemployed workers purchase health insurance “beyond what President Bush proposed,” the Wall Street Journal reports.