Latest California Healthline Stories
Bush to Back ‘Limited’ Patients’ Rights Proposal
President Bush today will endorse a patients’ bill of rights in which patients would have the right to sue their health plans but lawsuits and jury awards would be limited, USA Today reports.
CalPERS May Drop 3 Health Plans After Second Round of Bidding
Hoping to control rising health care costs, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees is poised today to approve a proposal to drop Aetna, Cigna and Lifeguard from the program, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Democrats Ask Thompson to Implement New Privacy Rules
Congressional Democrats sent a letter to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson yesterday urging him to implement the medical privacy rules issued by the Clinton administration as scheduled on April 14, CongressDaily reports.
Most Physicians Believe Internet is Integral in Future of Medicine, Survey Says
An “overwhelming majority” of physicians believe the Internet will simplify the practice of medicine and improve patient care quality, but many also feel that uniform standards for online health information need to be adopted, Reuters Health reports.
More Teens Use Web for Health Information
Enticed by anonymity and the availability of personalized information, teenagers are increasingly turning to the Internet for answers to health questions, the New York Times reports.
Union-Tribune Questions Size of Tobacco Lawyers’ Award
Calling the National Tobacco Arbitration Panel’s decision earlier this month to award $637.5 million to the 10 law firms that represented California in the national tobacco settlement “outrageous,” a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial urges the Davis administration to “challenge the portion of the fees that may be deemed unreasonable,” as allowed by law.
New Health Plan Report Disputes Findings of 1999 CMA Report
Responding to a 1999 report from the California Medical Association that blamed “low payments” from health plans for “widespread bankruptcies and closures of physician groups,” the California Association of Health Plans has released a new report to state lawmakers disputing those claims, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The attorneys general of five states, including California, announced yesterday that they have filed suit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. for allegedly violating various terms of the 1998 national tobacco settlement, the AP/Nando Times reports.
Marin County Hospitals, IPA Offer Loans to Attract New Doctors
To ease a “pending doctor crunch” in Marin County, the not-for-profit Marin General and Novato Community hospitals, along with the Marin Individual Practice Association, are devoting between $400,000 and $500,000 this year “to provide low-cost, three-year loans to up to six doctors new to the area to help cover the costs of establishing their practices,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Internet Transforms Medical Journals
The Internet “is changing the multibillion-dollar medical journal business,” partly by “forcing” many journals to put articles online, the New York Times reports.