Latest California Healthline Stories
Reports of Doctor Denial for Medicare Beneficiaries on the Rise
Doctors in Denver, Atlanta, Austin and other urban areas, “frustrated with what they say are low Medicare payments and onerous rules,” are limiting the number of Medicare patients they take, refusing to take new Medicare patients or dropping Medicare patients altogether, USA Today reports.
Complaints of Respiratory Therapists Rose After Reporting Law Was Enforced
Hospital complaints about respiratory therapists have “soared” since a state law mandating reporting of therapists’ misconduct took effect two years ago, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Commerce Committee Reasserts Authority on Health Care
House Energy and Commerce Chair W.J. Tauzin (R-La.) has set some new goals for his committee, including repositioning the group in important health care debates, CongressDaily reports.
San Diego County to Sue State for $25M over Medical Services to Poor
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors last week decided to pursue a lawsuit against the state seeking money for state-mandated medical services the county provided to poor residents, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Tetanus Vaccine Shortage Leads Hospitals to Ration Shots
A nationwide shortage of the tetanus vaccine has led many hospitals to reserve the shot for burn victims and other “severely injured patients,” the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
New Jersey Doctors May Soon Email Prescriptions
Doctors in New Jersey may soon be able to email prescriptions directly to pharmacies, a move designed to “reduc[e] errors caused by illegible handwriting,” the Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Medical Board Says Hospitals Fail to Report ‘Bad Doctors’
Based on the “steep decline” in the number of reports made by hospitals detailing the disciplining of physicians, the Medical Board of California believes that “hospitals are purposely not filing” such reports, thereby “putting patients at risk,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
San Francisco May Provide Sex-Change Benefit for City Workers
San Francisco is considering providing health care coverage for city workers undergoing sex-change procedures, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
San Diego Physicians’ Groups Ending Contracts with Medicare HMOs
Citing low reimbursement rates and “skyrocketing health costs,” two San Diego County medical groups have severed ties with two Medicare+Choice organizations to avoid “the full risks” of costs, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Breaux, Frist Unveil Two Medicare Plans
Amid a “favorable climate,” Sens. John Breaux (D-La.) and Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) yesterday unveiled two versions of a “centrist” proposal — called Breaux-Frist I and II — that would “modernize” Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit to the program, the Baltimore Sun reports.