Latest California Healthline Stories
Californians Believe Overall Health Linked to Quality Care, Other Factors
Improving Californians’ overall health is influenced by access to quality health care services, as well as other “life factors,” including community, environment, safety and school quality/youth violence, according to a statewide survey commissioned by the California Center for Health Improvement.
New FDA Rules Require Registration of Tissue and Cell Products
Fulfilling her promise to tighten regulations on the human body part trade, HHS Secretary Donna Shalala yesterday released final regulations requiring all establishments that manufacture human cells, tissues and cellular- and tissue-based products to register and list their products with the FDA, the Orange County Register reports.
Online Counseling Popular, Fraught With ‘Ethical Questions’
An increasing number of therapists offer mental health help online, but the ecounseling industry’s recent growth has raised a number of “ethical” questions Newsweek reports.
HHS Grants CHIP Waivers to Three States
Outgoing HHS Secretary Donna Shalala yesterday announced the approval of three CHIP waivers, allowing three states — New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin — to offer health insurance coverage to parents of children eligible under CHIP or Medicaid.
Medicaid Issues Final Rules on Beneficiary Protections
HHS published new regulations today in the Federal Register to provide for “greater patient protections” for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid managed care plans.
Veterans Affaris Nominee Declares ‘War’ on System
Veterans Affairs Secretary-designate Anthony Principi vowed yesterday during confirmation hearings before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to “shake up” the department’s “chronically sluggish” claims processing system and to revamp the VA’s health system, the Washington Post reports.
John Muir/Mount Diablo Resumes Talks with Blue Cross
Contract negotiations over provider reimbursement rates between Blue Cross of California and the John Muir/Mount Diablo Health System will resume Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bush Aides Look to Undo Final Clinton Regulations
While the Bush administration is for preparing its transition to power, the president-elect’s aides are reviewing all of the Clinton administration’s “11th hour” initiatives, “plotting” to “wipe the Clinton presidency off the Federal Register,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Los Angeles County Health Department Evaluates Syphilis ‘Outbreak’
Public health officials in Los Angeles County yesterday presented details of a syphilis outbreak that began almost a year ago and stated that the “outbreak had been contained,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Agencies Prepare Home Health Patients for Blackouts
While most California hospitals are exempt from the state-ordered power blackouts, those living at home with the assistance of electrical medical equipment may be in “jeopard[y],” the AP/Ventura County Star reports.