Latest California Healthline Stories
Recent Immigrants in Better Health, Study Finds
The health of “longtime” migrant farm workers is “considerably worse” than that of workers who have “just arrived” in the United States, even after the workers’ age is taken into account, according to preliminary findings of a study to be released later this month by the California Policy Research Center.
Allergy Drugs Should Be Available OTC, Panel Says
An FDA advisory panel on Friday agreed with WellPoint Health Networks’ contention that allergy drugs Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec are safe enough to be made available without a prescription, the Washington Post reports.
Chemotherapy Overused at End of Life, Study Finds
Many cancer patients with ailments unresponsive to chemotherapy are receiving the treatment near the end of their life anyway, a study of Massachusetts cancer patients has found.
Hospitals, Lawmakers Try to Stop Looming Medicare Cuts
A “broad alliance” of politicians, hospital administrators, physicians and union leaders is trying to “head off” two scheduled reductions in Medicare payments resulting from the 1997 Balanced Budget Act that they say would have a crippling effect on hospital services, particularly on the nation’s teaching facilities, the New York Times reports.
Los Angeles County ER Overcrowding Forces Increased Ambulance Diversions
Ambulance diversions that were once limited to “busy inner city hospitals” or during the winter flu season are now “spread out all over the place,” and emergency room overcrowding at Los Angeles County hospitals has become such an “everyday problem” that ambulances are “routinely” diverted to other facilities, the Los Angeles Times reports.
MedUnite Earns Health Net Spot on Forbes’ ‘Magnetic 40’
Due to its partnership with seven competitors, including Aetna and Cigna, to form an online claims processing system, Health Net is one of Forbes‘ “Magnetic 40,” companies the magazine says are “skilled at managing relationships” with other firms.
Some Counties Spending Too Much Proposition 36 Money on Probation, Treatment Advocates Say
Supporters of Proposition 36, the ballot initiative approved by voters last November that calls for non-violent drug offenders to receive treatment instead of jail time, say that some county probation offices are “swallowing” too much of the $120 million set aside for the initiative, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Many California Stores Sell Cigarettes to Minors, Study Finds
Despite federal and state laws requiring store clerks to inspect identification when selling tobacco products, a research letter published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association finds that inspection is inadequate and many stores routinely sell cigarettes to minors.
San Leandro Nursing Home Owner Indicted for Overbilling Medicare
A federal grand jury has indicted San Leandro-based St. Luke’s Sub-acute Hospital and Nursing Centre Inc. and its owner for allegedly defrauding Medicare of more than $1.5 million, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Former HCFA Administrators Call for More Funding
HCFA needs additional resources, including money and staff, if the agency is to maintain its current responsibilities, four former HCFA administrators — dubbed the “Mount Rushmore of HCFA” by Rep. James Greenwood (R-Pa.) — told members of the House Energy and Commerce health and oversight and investigations subcommittees yesterday.