Latest California Healthline Stories
Blue Cross PPO Members Could Pay More for Sutter Services
Beginning Feb. 1, Blue Cross preferred provider organization members could receive “unexpectedly high bills” for treatment at Sutter Health facilities due to an ongoing contract dispute between the medical network and the insurer, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports.
Grassley Prepared to Address Health Care
Incoming Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is “poised to take an active role in shaping health care policy this year” and is “not likely to be simply an instrument” for pushing President-elect Bush’s agenda, CongressDaily reports.
Delta Dental Plans Officially Become Dentegra Group Inc.
The integrated Delta Dental companies, which include Delta Dental Plan of California, last week announced that the San Francisco-based holding company will now be called DentegraGroup Inc., the Sacramento Bee reports.
Wygod Spoons Strong Medicine to Ailing WebMD
Facing “collapsed” share prices and losses “ballooning in the billions,” WebMD Corp. is suffering from a number of financial maladies, but “seasoned” health care entrepreneur Martin Wygod may have a prescription for the ailing dot-com, the Wall Street Journal reports.
S.F. Public Health Dept. Will Oversee City’s Prop. 36 Enforcement
The San Francisco Health Commission yesterday unanimously approved a resolution placing the city’s Department of Public Health in charge of enforcing Proposition 36-mandated substance abuse and treatment policies in the city, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Pocketscript Inc. Expanding on the E-Prescriptions Scene
The Cincinnati Enquirer recently reported on the future of Pocketscript Inc., an e-prescriptions company.
Less Television Viewing Leads to Less Aggression in Children, Study Finds
Reducing the amount of time children watch television and play video games can decrease their aggressiveness, according to a study in yesterday’s issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
New OSHA Rules Spur Debate Over Ergonomics
With new OSHA ergonomics rules slated to take effect this week, newspapers are reporting on the debate surrounding the new ergonomic standards.
Possible Blood Donation Restrictions Worry Blood Banks
The FDA’s consideration of greater restrictions on blood donations from people who may have contracted the human version of mad cow disease in Europe has blood banks worrying about possible shortages, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Medicare+Choice Reimbursement Rates Increased, Impact in Fresno Remains Unclear
Although Medicare+Choice plans in Fresno County will receive a 20% increase in reimbursement rates this year, it remains uncertain if the increased payments will keep health plans from exiting the market or “lure back” those that have already left the Valley, the Fresno Bee reports.