Latest California Healthline Stories
Vaccine Requirements Credited With Low Rates of Whooping Cough
School district officials in California say that the state is experiencing a normal number of pertussis — or whooping cough — cases despite an outbreak affecting other parts of the country in part because of a state requirement for vaccinating students. San Jose Mercury News.
Editorial Calls for Clear Rules, Standards on Medical Pot
A recent vote by the Los Angeles City Council to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries “is the latest reminder that this state needs to revise its loophole-ridden law on medical pot,” according to a San Francisco Chronicle editorial. It states that California voters “approved the medical use of marijuana in 1996, leaving the details of growing, selling and regulating woefully unclear.” It concludes, “It’s time for a comprehensive answer with clear rules and standards, not a haphazard set of decisions.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Lawmakers Seek Reason for Plans To Shift $708M From Defense Health
House lawmakers are asking Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for an explanation of why the Department of Defense is seeking to redirect $708 million from the Defense Health Program after pushing to raise health insurance fees in TRICARE. The Hill‘s “DEFCON Hill,” Nextgov.
California Researchers Look at Effect of Pre-Hospital ECG
A new study by researchers at the UC-San Diego School of Medicine, Rural/Metro Ambulance San Diego and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department found that emergency medical workers can conduct an electrocardiogram in the field on patients with chest pain without increasing the transport time to the hospital. The study, published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, analyzed data on nearly 22,000 patients treated over a five-year period by San Diego city paramedics. U-T San Diego.
First 5 L.A. To Add Programs, Accelerate Other Spending
The First 5 Commission of Los Angeles County has earmarked about $70 million for new programs and another $110 million for an accelerated spending timetable for existing programs. The changes follow a successful legal challenge against the state’s attempt to divert about $1 billion in tobacco tax revenues from First 5 programs throughout California. Payers & Providers.
Funding for Rx Drug Database Could Run Out by Year’s End
According to the state attorney general’s office, California’s prescription drug monitoring system could run out of funding by the end of the year as a result of budget cuts. Officials say they are seeking other sources of funding. California Watch.
Brown Signs Bill To Bring More Doctors to Rural Areas
Gov. Brown has signed into law a bill, by Assembly member Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata), to align California law with a federal law that allows physicians licensed in another state to be employed by Native American health programs. The measure aims to bring more physicians to rural areas of California. Eureka Times Standard.
Plaintiff in SCOTUS Case Takes Aim at Provisions of Health Reform Law
The National Federation of Independent Business, a plaintiff in the Supreme Court case on the federal health reform law, is pushing for legislative or regulatory action to scale back three provisions of the reform law that it says would burden small businesses. Washington Post.
CIRM Awards $151M in Stem Cell Grants to Eight Research Projects
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has approved $151 million in grants to aid research on cancer, heart disease and spinal cord injuries. The grants also will go toward studying rare illnesses, such as Huntington’s disease. San Francisco Chronicle.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 27, 2012
Palomar Medical Center officials have unveiled a new $956 million facility, which is scheduled to begin operations next month. Contra Costa Health Services has received a $1 million donation from John Muir Health to add night and weekend hours at the new West County Health Center.