Latest California Healthline Stories
Bush Would Increase HIV/AIDS Funds in Budget
President Bush is expected to announce today that he will increase HHS’ expenditures on AIDS by $688 million, or 7%, with a “particular emphasis on research to develop a vaccine and international efforts to combat [HIV and AIDS] in the world’s poorest countries,” the Washington Post reports.
PacifiCare Physician Group Switch Leaves Fresno Members Scrambling for Doctors
PacifiCare Health Systems members in the Fresno area are “upset” about the health plan’s decision to switch physician groups and are “critical” of the way the switch was handled, the Fresno Bee reports.
Consumer Coalition Sues Bristol-Myers Over Generic Drug Access
A coalition of consumer groups has filed four lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., alleging that the company “illegally” attempted to extend the patent on its anti-anxiety drug BuSpar to keep a monopoly, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports.
Bill Would Extend Health Plans’ Contract Termination Notification Period
The Assembly Health Committee last week unanimously approved a bill (AB 1522) that would require health plans to give members 90-days notice if the insurers planned to terminate a contract with a health care provider, the Oakland Tribune reports.
HHS Advisory Panel to Look at Medical Privacy of Families
An HHS advisory panel will today begin drafting medical research guidelines concerning the privacy protection needs of family members of patients, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Stanford to Give Incoming Medical Students Handheld Computers
Incoming medical students at Stanford University School of Medicine will be given handheld patient-management tools on the first day of their clinical training, ihealthcareweekly.com reports.
Insurers Target Antibiotic Overuse
Twenty-four of the nation’s “largest health insurers,” including Aetna Inc., Cigna Corp. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc., are preparing to unveil a “concerted strategy” to combat the overprescription of antibiotics, using “reams of medical-claims and pharmacy data that will tell them which U.S. doctors continue to prescribe too many antibiotics,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Counties Prepare for Proposition 36 Implementation
California counties are “racing the clock” to prepare for the July 1 implementation 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, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Sonoma County Attempts ‘Daunting’ Task of Increasing Medicare Reimbursement Rates
Hospitals and doctors in Sonoma County are seeking increased Medicare reimbursement rates, a “central issue” in the county’s “financially wobbly medical community,” the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports.
Memphis Shows Potential as a Health Care eCommerce Hub
With its “reputation for excellence in health care and logistics, and its growing high-tech community,” Memphis, Tenn., has the potential to become a “hub of health care electronic commerce,” the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.