03/04/2010
State officials have rejected an appeal from Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Services to continue handling a claims processing system for Medi-Cal. The Department of Health Care Services will grant the $1.6 billion contract to Affiliated Computer Services. Sacramento Bee.
03/01/2010
CalPERS' Board of Administration has re-elected Rob Feckner to his sixth term as board president. Meanwhile, the California Regional Extension Center announced that former consultant and clinic director Speranza Avram will serve as the organization's executive director.
02/26/2010
Rate increases from Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and other insurers are having a major impact on small businesses, which lack the buying power to negotiate lower rates on coverage. California insurance industry experts say plans connected to health savings accounts in particular have seen significant rate increases. San Francisco Chronicle.
02/24/2010
Electronic Data Systems and Affiliated Computer Systems are waging a public relations and lobbying battle over a contract to process claims for Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid system, according to Dan Walters. In December, the state awarded the contract to ACS, but EDS immediately filed an appeal. Sacramento Bee.
02/16/2010
The Institute for Women's Policy Research has released a paper suggesting that H1N1 flu spread through coworkers in part because many private-sector workers do not have paid sick leave. A bill that would have required California employers to provide paid sick leave was introduced last year but failed to make it out of the Legislature. HealthLeaders Media.
02/12/2010
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing for a vote on a more narrowly targeted bill aimed at spurring job growth rather than more expansive legislation that also would have addressed Medicare payments to doctors and extended COBRA subsidies. CongressDaily et al.
02/11/2010
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed to accept a $1.5 million settlement offer from Sierra Systems after the computer system the contractor developed failed to process reimbursement claims from mental health providers. The backlog in claims resulted in suits against the state and county. Los Angeles Times.
02/08/2010
A bill introduced in the Assembly last week would offer
support and incentives to encourage biotechnology companies to remain in
California and to attract out-of-state firms to the state. Gov. Schwarzenegger
has not yet taken a position on the bill. San Mateo County Times.
02/03/2010
A new report from the California Healthcare Institute and PricewaterhouseCoopers indicates that the biomedical industry continues to add jobs in California, although a significant number of firms expect to expand their manufacturing and research and development activities outside of the state. San Francisco Business Times.
02/03/2010
On Monday, Humana announced that its fourth-quarter earnings increased by 44%, partly because of increased membership in its Medicare Advantage plans. Humana is the country's second-largest provider of MA plans. Wall Street Journal.
02/01/2010
The health care job market is offering hope to Sacramento-area residents affected by the recession and unemployment. The need for workers in high-demand health care specialties, such as radiology technology and nursing, is increasing in the area. Sacramento Bee.
02/01/2010
Alfred Gilchrist is leaving his new post as CEO of the California Medical Association and returning to his former job in Colorado. Meanwhile, Brown & Toland Medical Group's CEO Gloria Austin has announced plans to retire by the end of 2010, and Gov. Schwarzenegger filled a number of board positions.
01/29/2010
Demand for allied health professionals remains strong in California in large part because many current workers are expected to retire in the near future. Health care officials in California say the state's degree and certificate programs are not turning out enough graduates to meet the state's needs. Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News."
01/28/2010
On Wednesday, WellPoint announced that its fourth-quarter profit for 2009 exceeded analyst estimates, reaching $2.7 billion, or $5.95 per share, largely as a result of its sale of pharmacy benefit manager subsidiaries in December. WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of California. Los Angeles Times.
01/20/2010
On Tuesday, Long Beach-based HMO Molina Healthcare announced that it will pay $135 million in cash for IT services firm Unisys' health information management unit. The unit of Unisys currently has contracts with Medicaid programs in Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey and West Virginia. Los Angeles Times, Government Health IT.