Latest California Healthline Stories
Companies to Launch Hospital Bonus Program Aiming to Reduce Medical Errors
Four New York companies today will announce a $2 million program to “encourage” hospitals to reduce medical errors by implementing computerized error-prevention systems, the New York Times reports.
Johnson to Push Medicare+Choice Payment Hike This Year
House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) said yesterday that she plans to push legislation through Congress by the end of the current session that would increase payments to Medicare+Choice plans, CongressDaily/AM reports.
States Look to Federal Government to Prevent Unemployed Workers from Crowding Medicaid Programs
Hoping to avoid taking on greater financial burden at a time when revenues are already decreasing, states have asked the federal government to enact measures that would “minimize the number of laid-off workers joining” Medicaid, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Potent Grade of Anthrax Found in Daschle Letter, 29 Exposed
The anthrax contained in a letter mailed to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) was of a “high-grade,” suggesting that “someone, somewhere has access to the sort of germ weapons capable of inflicting huge casualties,” the New York Times reports.
School Officials Urging Parents to Enroll Children in Healthy Families
California educators are attempting to increase awareness of Healthy Families among parents and students, letting them know about the state’s CHIP program at back-to-school nights, pizza parties and parent-teacher conferences.
Schumer Calls for Generic Production of Cipro
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) questioned yesterday whether German drug maker Bayer AG can meet the demand for the antibiotic Cipro, the only drug approved by the FDA to treat inhaled anthrax, and asked HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to “invoke” a federal law that allows the government to purchase products for official use from manufacturers “other than the patent holder.”
California, Mexico Launch ‘Binational Health Week’ to Promote Health Care for Migrant Workers
Last Friday, California and Mexico launched the first “Binational Health Week” to improve care for migrants and those living on the border, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports.
Six Southern States to Create Rx Drug Purchasing Pool
Six “mostly southern” states are expected to announce today that they will form a drug purchasing pool to lower prescription costs for their state employee and retiree health plans, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Virginia Physician Web Site Posts Disciplinary Information
After months of controversy and delay, Virginia Gov. James Gilmore (R) has announced that the Virginia Department of Health Professions has posted full-text copies of disciplinary orders filed against physicians to a new state physician-profiling Web site, the Washington Post reports.
Senate Labor Committee Approves Scalia’s Nomination
A Senate panel yesterday narrowly approved the nomination of Eugene Scalia to become the Labor Department’s top lawyer, despite criticism from Democrats and labor unions about his views on ergonomics regulations, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports.