Latest California Healthline Stories
‘Partisan Struggle’ Likely in House Patients’ Rights Debate
Lawmakers in the House will likely face a “searing partisan struggle” over patients’ rights legislation “as soon as this week,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Private-Partner Clinics Could Help Los Angeles County Provide Care for Uninsured, Times Says
Noting that partnerships between Los Angeles County and private, not-for-profit clinics “have been one of the few good things to come from the county’s health care funding crisis,” a Los Angeles Times editorial argues that “there aren’t enough of the clinics” to help provide services to the county’s three million uninsured residents.
Medscape Cuts 100 Jobs, Explores Restructuring Options Amid Declining Cash Reserves
Citing lower-than-expected revenues and declining cash reserves, the online health record company Medscape on Friday eliminated 100 jobs — more than one-fifth of its employees — and announced that it was exploring other cash-generating options, including selling the company, the Portland Oregonian reports.
Workers Opt for Lower Health Premiums Over Pay Increases
Faced with the option of “putting money in their wallets” or lowering their health care costs, more workers are choosing affordable health care, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The California Medical Association says that doctors, frustrated with managed care and low pay, may “flee” the state, but the state’s managed care industry dismisses the claims as “unsubstantiated nonsense,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Bush Lays Out Proposals for Medicare Reform, Drug Plan
As expected, President Bush yesterday “formally unveiled” his “framework” for Medicare reform and the “first step” of the plan — a prescription drug discount card, CongressDaily reports.
San Francisco Unveils New Initiatives to Prevent the Spread of HIV, STDs
To curb San Francisco’s “growing HIV infection rate” and combat “alarming rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea” in the city’s African-American community, health officials yesterday unveiled several new prevention initiatives, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Georgia to Launch Pilot Internet Application Program for Long Term Care Services
Georgia Department of Community Health Commissioner Russ Toal announced yesterday that the department will soon launch a pilot program offering online applications to nursing home and community care patients, the Florida Times-Union reports.
New Medicare HMO Guide a ‘Useful’ Tool for Sacramento-area Seniors, Bee Says
Medicare beneficiaries in the Sacramento area now have a “useful and accessible” tool to help them make “informed decisions” when choosing a health care plan — the “Guide to California Medicare HMOs,” a Sacramento Bee editorial says.
Immigrant Advocates Push for Restoration of Benefits
Advocates for immigrants rallied on Capitol Hill yesterday to urge lawmakers to approve three bills that would restore benefits that were cut as part of a 1996 welfare reform law, the Dallas Morning News reports.