Latest California Healthline Stories
California Could Become National Model for Telemedicine
Given California’s size, large percentage of rural residents and policymakers’ willingness to find innovative ways to boost health care quality, the state is well positioned to become a model for telemedicine adoption and use. To seize this opportunity, the state must first alleviate some of the economical, regulatory and behavioral barriers preventing providers from deploying the technology.
Questions on Medi-Cal Funding Remain After Budget Deal
More than $1 billion in payments to health care providers were delayed after the Medi-Cal emergency fund was exhausted after only one month during the budget stalemate. In response, at least two lawmakers plan legislation for next year to increase the Medi-Cal emergency fund.
Health Cost Comparison Web Sites Slowly Catching On
Health care cost comparison Web sites are cropping up nationwide, even though cost information does not seem to be the top priority of consumers who researching health information online. Health care experts say that it is only a matter of time before consumers embrace online price comparison tools.
Telemedicine Network at the Forefront of Schwarzenegger’s Agenda for Health IT
California is pushing a plan to link more than 300 health care providers through a statewide network. Michael Liang in the governor’s office and Jana Katz Bell at UC-Davis spoke to California Healthline.
Groups in California Take Aim at Medicare Payments
How much should Medicare pay doctors and hospitals? That’s the question at the heart of two claims filed in California. One argues that Medicare is shortchanging care providers, while the other maintains that inflated reimbursements are hitting beneficiaries in the wallet.
California Hospitals Wonder if Feds Will Kick in for Health Reform
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s health care reform plan would rely on $3.7 billion in federal funds, but officials for the California Hospital Association are not convinced that the federal government will come through with the money.
SPECIAL AUDIO REPORT: Assembly To Hear Seismic Retrofit Legislation
One bill to extend the seismic safety compliance deadline would give hospitals an additional two years if they make a good faith effort to meet the deadline, while another would reevaluate which hospitals are the most at risk during an earthquake.
California Pay-for-Performance Programs Draws National Attention
As outcomes of a pay-for-performance program in California are reviewed this week, CMS and other groups consider the program as a model for similar efforts across the U.S.
CPOE Study Draws Strong Reaction From Medical, IT Community
A March study on computer physician order entry systems in the Journal of the American Medical Association has continued to elicit reaction from the health care and information technology communities, with some stakeholders saying media coverage of the report could slow implementation efforts.
Debate Over Hospital Prices Plays Out in California
An ongoing debate about potential cost savings from changes CalPERS made in its Blue Shield of California HMO network highlights price tensions between hospitals and health care payers, with a recent state analysis raising some questions about savings estimates and new legislation being introduced to make CalPERS’ health care decision-making more transparent.