Latest California Healthline Stories
HealthVote2005: Proposition 73
Proposition 73 on the Nov. 8 special election ballot would amend the state constitution to require health care providers to notify a parent or guardian 48 hours before performing an abortion on an unmarried minor. Proponents say the measure would reduce abortions, but opponents say it could compromise girls’ access to safe health care.
Care Provider Preparedness Could Affect Part D Rollout
The federal government has recommended that Medicare beneficiaries consult care providers with questions about the Medicare drug benefit, but some senior advocates and professional associations say providers might not be prepared to answer such questions.
HealthVote2005: Proposition 78 and Proposition 79
Two measures on the Nov. 8 special election ballot seek to create prescription drug discount programs, although the provisions of each measure — one sponsored by a coalition of drug makers and one sponsored by a coalition of labor and advocacy groups — differ.
In an interview for a California Healthline special audio report, Lynn Rolston, CEO of the California Pharmacists Association, said that pharmacists currently are not taking a position on either of the competing propositions addressing prescription drugs on the Nov. 8 special election ballot because they contain “so little detail” on how the legislation would affect pharmacists and patients’ access to pharmacists.
New Medicare Drug Benefit Might Be a Tough Sell
Advocacy groups in California and nationwide are preparing to help Medicare beneficiaries enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and are specifically preparing to educate beneficiaries about provisions of the benefit while addressing their concerns about enrollment and the benefit itself.
Health Care Players Look at Possible Effects of Future Health Insurance Mergers
After last year’s debate over the Anthem-WellPoint merger, health care players now are looking at what a proposed merger between PacifiCare and UnitedHealth Group could mean for the health insurance market.
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.
New Medicare Drug Benefit Excludes Some Medicines
The new Medicare drug benefit does not provide coverage for all classes of prescription drugs, and some patient advocates are particularly concerned about the exclusion of benzodiazepines.
CNA Efforts Expand Beyond California’s Borders
Although some nurses have welcomed the California Nurses Association as it seeks to expand the scope of its work, other nurse unions and hospital operators have been critical of CNA’s efforts on nurse representation and broader health care policy initiatives.
Data From Medicare Drug Benefit Eyed for Rx Safety Project
CMS Administrator Mark McClellan in May proposed using prescription drug information collected through the new Medicare drug benefit to improve FDA surveillance systems. McClellan and HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt have said personal data will remain secure, but some advocates have raised questions.