01/05/2009
Democratic leaders in Congress now say an economic stimulus package that is expected to include provisions for Medicaid funding and health information technology will not be ready until mid-February. Democrats had hoped to have Congress approve the bill by the inauguration. Washington Post et al.
12/22/2008
In an opinion piece, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt calls for including funding for health information technology funding in the economic stimulus package but warns that "unless the funds are tied to standards for interoperability of health IT systems, the expenditures could do more harm than good." Washington Post.
12/19/2008
Two reports from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimate that plans offered by President-elect Barack Obama and other Democrats to reduce health care costs would yield moderate savings. CBO evaluated more than 100 plans for the reports. Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
12/16/2008
Beginning on Jan. 1, Sandra Shewry will lead the California Center for Connected Health. The center aims to take the lead in coordinating telehealth strategy and efforts in California at a time when millions of dollars are available for such projects. Sacramento Business Journal et al.
12/12/2008
Congressional Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama are building the case for increased federal spending on health care as part of an economic stimulus package. State Medicaid programs and health information technology are among the programs being considered for funding increases. Washington Post et al.
12/11/2008
Democratic congressional leaders are working to craft an economic stimulus package that includes additional federal funding to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program and boost adoption of health information technology. Lawmakers' opinions are mixed on whether funding for SCHIP should be included in the stimulus package. CQ HealthBeat et al.
12/08/2008
President-elect Barack Obama has detailed plans to include additional funding for state Medicaid programs and health information technology efforts in a proposed economic stimulus package that he hopes to sign soon after being inaugurated. Obama did not specify how much the efforts would cost. Long Island Newsday et al.
12/04/2008
Prescription Project, an advocacy group, argues that medical device advertisements by Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic and Stryker that are posted on the video Web site YouTube violate federal rules because they do not include required warnings and disclosure. On Wednesday, the group asked FDA to update its advertising rules to specifically address such Internet marketing. Wall Street Journal.
12/02/2008
Billed as the first of its kind in the country, a pilot project is creating personal health records for farm workers in the San Joaquin Valley. The project is part of $6 million in new state grants for projects aimed at improving health care delivery systems for underserved populations. by George Lauer
11/25/2008
Internet users who use search engines to diagnose ailments often conclude the worst, according to a Microsoft study of health-related Internet searches on popular search engines and a survey of the company's employees' medical search habits. New York Times.
11/20/2008
General Electric and GE Healthcare officials announced that they will partner with four medical institutions, including UC-San Francisco Medical Center, on a five-year, $200 million project to develop a national electronic health record system and related technologies. San Francisco Business Times.
11/13/2008
Along with several industry partners, CMS will launch the pilot program in Arizona and Utah in January 2009. Medicare beneficiaries will get access to personal health records that will let them maintain and share their medical histories with health care providers, pharmacies and others. Cronkite News/Arizona Daily Star.
10/24/2008
The state Bureau of Audits found that more than half of the 68 data banks its auditors examined in 2006 and 2007 were unreliable or of questionable value. For example, a Department of Health Care Services data bank managed by Electronic Data Systems authorized $5.1 million in overpayments to 532 facilities. Sacramento Bee.
10/20/2008
The health care industry is incorporating health information technology applications more widely, increasing the likelihood that more health care services will be available remotely without direct personal interaction. However, security and privacy concerns remain. Wall Street Journal.
10/17/2008
The UC-Davis Cancer Center's new specialty network formalizes collaborative agreements with cancer centers in Northern and Central California. The network will use telemedicine to let oncologists and other care providers share information and discuss treatment plans. Sacramento Business Journal.