Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA to ‘Crack Down’ on Illegal Sales of Cipro
The FDA has initiated a series of measures to “crack down” on illegal online Cipro sales “spurred” by the recent anthrax scare, AP/MSNBC reports.
HHS Announces Increases for Medicare Premiums
HHS on Oct. 19 announced the 2002 rates for Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. The deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital inpatient, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health care, will increase 2.5% from $792 to $812.
Low Reimbursement Rates Prompt Madera Community Hospital to Cancel Medi-Cal Contract
Citing low reimbursement rates, a nursing shortage and increasing energy and insurance costs, Madera Community Hospital is planning to cancel its Medi-Cal contract Oct. 29, the Fresno Bee reports.
Ridge Hopes to ‘Reassure’ Public on Anthrax Threat
The Bush administration yesterday launched a “broad campaign,” led by new Office of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, to “quell criticism” that the administration “lacks a unified plan” to address the “growing number” of anthrax cases and has provided the public with “confusing or inaccurate information,” the Washington Post reports.
WellPoint Plans to Purchase RightChoice, Continue to ‘Diversify’
Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks announced on Thursday plans to buy St. Louis-based RightChoice Managed Care in its effort to continue to “diversify beyond its California base,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Senate Committee Targets Generic DrugTrade Agreements, Canada Overrides Cipro Patent
The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday approved a bill that would force drugmakers to disclose agreements with generic manufacturers that “keep less expensive” treatments off the market, CongressDaily reports.
Santa Rosa Doctors Dissatisfied With Health Plan of the Redwoods’ Contract Offers
“Dozens” of Sonoma County physicians affiliated with Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital’s St. Joseph Health Foundation have “threaten[ed]” to reject contract offers from Health Plan of the Redwoods for next year, saying that the agreements don’t provide them with an adequate “share” of the health plan’s 15% premium increase, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Employees of Four Sacramento-Area Hospitals Announce Plans to Join Union
Nearly 2,000 employees at four Catholic Healthcare West hospitals — Mercy General and Methodist Hospital in Sacramento, Mercy Hospital in Folsom and Mercy San Juan Hospital in Carmichael — announced yesterday that they plan to affiliate with Service Employees International Union Local 250.
N.J. Postal Worker Tests Positive for Anthrax Disease, Brings Infected Toll to Six
A New Jersey postal worker has tested positive for cutaneous anthrax, and a second New Jersey postal worker is showing symptoms of the disease, the Washington Post reports.
Fourth Patient Receives Abiocor Artificial Heart
A fourth patient underwent an eleven-hour procedure to receive a self-contained artificial heart Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.