Latest California Healthline Stories
John Muir/Mt. Diablo, Blue Shield Contract to Expire March 31
Already involved in a contract standoff with Blue Cross of California, John Muir/Mt. Diablo Health System and Health Network will reach the end of its contract with Blue Shield of California on March 31, and the two have “been unable to reach a new deal,” the Contra Costa Times reports.
Medical Technology Raises Health Costs, Study Finds
“Unfettered” use of new medical technologies may account for one third of projected increases in health care spending over the next five years, a study conducted by Project HOPE for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association of America and Health Insurance Association of America concluded.
Allstate Gets $8.2M in Fraud Lawsuit Against Southern California Clinics
Allstate Corp. won a $8.2 million award yesterday in a lawsuit involving nine Southern California medical clinics accused of billing the insurer for treatments that were never performed, the Los Angeles Times report.
House OKs Tax Package’s ‘Heart,’ Democrats Object
The House yesterday approved, by a 230-198 margin, the “heart” of President Bush’s 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax cut plan — a 10-year, $958 billion across-the-board income tax reduction — amid complaints from Democrats that the bill would hamper other initiatives, the New York Times reports.
Ventura County Medical Center, Community Memorial Hospital Reach Agreement on Renovations
In the latest development in a “long hospital war,” Community Memorial Hospital has agreed to support upgrades of Ventura County Medical Center’s laboratory and kitchen, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Lawmakers Want NIH to Profit from Research
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and some members of Congress want NIH to receive reimbursement for some products that private firms develop based on the institute’s research, Winston-Salem Journal reports.
Lawmakers Introduce Medicare Bill to Ease Audit Process
Supported by a number of groups representing health care providers, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) yesterday introduced legislation — the Medicare Education and Regulatory Fairness Act — that would revamp Medicare audit procedures, CongressDaily/A.M. reports.
Online Pharmacy Charge with Selling Large Quantities of Controlled Substances
Federal and state agents on Monday raided Oklahoma-based Mainstreet Pharmacy, which operates nationpharmacy.com, in response to complaints that the pharmacy sold “alarming quantities” of “controlled dangerous drugs,” the Daily Oklahoman reports.
Sutter Merced-Mercy Hospital Merger Hearings End
The last public hearing on the potential merger of Sutter Merced Medical Center and Mercy Hospital was held on Tuesday, the Modesto Bee reports.
House Repeals Ergonomics Rules, Bush Expected to Sign
The House, “follow[ing] the lead taken by the Senate less than 24 hours earlier,” yesterday voted 223-206 to repeal ergonomics regulations issued by the Clinton administration and promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in January, the Washington Post reports.