Latest California Healthline Stories
Focus Groups Give Healthy Families High Marks, Say Medi-Cal Program Carries Stigma
Most California families whose children are covered by Healthy Families report high levels of satisfaction with the program, according to findings from several focus groups conducted in the state.
HHS to Launch New Spanish-Language Consumer Health Portal
HHS on Friday will launch healthfinder7 español, a new, Spanish-language version of the department’s online consumer health information service.
Bone Loss Linked to Inhaled Steroids in Women with Asthma
Women with asthma who take commonly prescribed inhaled steroids are at greater risk of experiencing bone loss in their hips and subsequently, osteoporosis, according to a study in today’s New England Journal of Medicine.
Medicare to Cover At-Home Blood Thinner Drug Test
Medicare will soon cover an at-home test for thousands of Americans who take the blood thinner Coumadin or warfarin, a generic version of the drug, to “ensure the drug is working properly,” the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced yesterday.
Congress May Subsidize COBRA Premiums for Uninsured
Democrats and Republicans, although “largely unsuccessful” this year in reaching an agreement on a plan to “bring relief” to some of the nation’s 43 million uninsured, have backed a short-term plan based on COBRA, CongressDaily reports.
Overall Health Care Costs Rise 7.2% Due to Higher Hospital, Drug Costs
Health care costs rose 7.2% last year — the “largest jump in a decade” — due primarily to increasing hospital and pharmaceutical costs, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change, the Washington Post reports.
Bill to Create Organ Donor Database Waits for Davis’ Signature
Hoping to increase California’s number of potential organ donors, the Legislature earlier this month passed a bill (SB 108) that would create a central database of people willing to donate their organs upon their death, the Sacramento Bee reports.
State Supreme Court to Review Catholic Charity’s Suit Against Contraceptive Coverage Mandate
The California Supreme Court yesterday agreed to review an appeals court ruling that requires a Catholic charity to include contraceptive coverage in its health plans that cover prescription drugs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
DMHC Fines Health Net $100,000 for Late Payments to Providers
The Department of Managed Health Care yesterday fined Health Net $100,000 for failing to pay claims on time, the second-largest penalty ever levied by the agency, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Study Finds Racial Disparities in Flu Shots
African Americans in both Medicare+Choice plans and traditional fee-for-service Medicare receive influenza vaccinations “persistently less” often than white beneficiaries, according to a new study in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association.