Latest California Healthline Stories
Federal Judge Orders WebMD to Continue Sharing Data with Quintiles
A federal judge last week upheld a temporary injunction that orders WebMD to continue to send health insurance claim data to Quintiles Transnational Corp. while the two companies work to resolve WebMD’s concerns about patient privacy, the Wall Street Journal reports.
MedicareTrustees Predict Part A Solvency Until 2029
The Medicare Part A trust fund will not run out of money until 2029, four years later than estimates a year ago, the program’s trustees said yesterday in their annual report.
California Endowment Funds Program to Funnel Immigrant Health Professionals into U.S. System
The California Endowment is funding a three-year, $2 million grant to help develop a model program that will move unemployed immigrant health professionals into “understaffed community clinics” and eventually into higher-paying jobs in health fields where there are shortages around the state, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Wye Group Hopes to Influence Policy on the Uninsured
Despite the “crowded” 2001 health care agenda, lawmakers have promised to address the issue of the uninsured, prompting the Maryland-based Wye Group — a “key outside policy group” — to recruit “influential” lawmakers, as well as Bush administration officials, to “influence the legislative outcome,” National Journal reports.
USA Today Debates Patient Privacy Issue
“[I]ntense lobbying by groups that benefit from the status quo has delayed reforms” of patient privacy guidelines, and the Bush administration’s decision to review the federal privacy rules issued by the Clinton administration is “compound[ing]” that delay, a USA Today editorial states.
San Bernardino County Requests Ban on Emergency Contraception in Public Clinics
Fearing that emergency contraception could be distributed to minors, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 last Tuesday to ask the federal government for a waiver permitting the county to stop dispensing the pills from its public clinics while it continues to receive $450,000 in federal family planning funds, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Survey Finds Support for Tax Credits Among Small Businesses
More than three-quarters of small businesses said in a recent survey that they favor federal legislation that would provide low-income workers with tax credits to help pay for health insurance premiums.
Drug Companies, Frist ‘Tussle’ over New FDA Commissioner
A “spirited tug-of-war” over the next FDA commissioner has “unfold[ed] behind the scenes” in the Bush administration, a “tussle” that may force President Bush to “choos[e] between his friends” — the pharmaceutical industry and Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), the Los Angeles Times reports.
FDA Approves Two New Drugs for Glaucoma
The FDA Friday approved two new glaucoma drugs, one of which has been shown to have “greater effectiveness for black patients,” who are disproportionately affected by the disease.
Hospital Turns to Computerized Systems to Cut Medical Errors
Following the 1999 Institute of Medicine report prompted a “public clamor” over medical errors, some hospitals, such as Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, have tackled the problem with “computerized physician order entry” systems — with “dramatic” results, the Washington Post reports.