Latest California Healthline Stories
Some California Hospitals Administered Heparin After FDA Recall
Some hospitals continued to give the blood thinner to patients, months after it was recalled because of contamination, according to state citations. The new information comes after the Board of Pharmacy fined hospitals for keeping the drug on their pharmacy shelves. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
Senate Approves Mental Health Parity Measure With Bailout Bill
The Senate-approved financial bailout bill includes provisions to improve health insurance coverage for individuals with mental illnesses. The provisions were added to entice House members who voted against the previous bailout measure but support parity legislation. AP/Detroit Free Press et al.
Governor Signs Bill Requiring Health Plans To Cover HIV Screenings
Under the new law, private health insurers operating in the state will be required to cover the cost of routine HIV testing. Experts say the new law could help eliminate the barriers to HIV screening. The law will guarantee coverage for 22.19 million insured residents. New York Times.
Editorial Stumps for Healthy San Francisco Program
According to an editorial, San Francisco’s “pioneering health coverage for the uninsured is picking up momentum” thanks to a “welcome ruling” by an appeals court panel that upheld the Healthy San Francisco program. The editorial argues that the program “should succeed where state and federal efforts failed.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Gov. Schwarzenegger Sets Record by Vetoing 35% of Bills
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s veto rate of 35% this year is by far the highest of any California governor since state officials began tracking that statistic when Ronald Reagan was governor. Schwarzenegger defended his recent veto of several health care bills, arguing that California needs comprehensive health care reform. Several Democratic lawmakers criticized the governor’s actions. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Commonwealth Fund Gives Obama’s Health Plan Higher Marks
A new Commonwealth Fund report found that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s health care proposal is more likely to improve health care affordability, accessibility, efficiency and quality than Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s plan. Reuters/Boston Globe, CQ HealthBeat.
Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Legislation
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have protected most employees from being fired for using medical marijuana outside the workplace. The measure would have overturned a state Supreme Court ruling that allows employers to punish workers for using legalized medical marijuana. San Francisco Chronicle.
Schwarzenegger Signs Disability Access Legislation
On Tuesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed disability access legislation aimed at increasing compliance with disability laws and curbing lawsuits. The bill seeks to promote compliance with disability access laws through the use of state-certified specialists. East Bay Business Times.
Opinion Piece Faults Governor for Veto of Stem Cell Bill
In an opinion piece, Wesley Smith — a senior fellow in Human Rights and Bioethics at the Discovery Institute and a special consultant to the Center for Bioethics and Culture — criticized Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for vetoing legislation that would have guaranteed access to stem cell therapies for uninsured Californians. San Francisco Chronicle.
Ventura County Mulls Ways To Address Nursing Shortage
On Tuesday, Destino: The Hispanic Legacy Fund and the Ventura Nursing Legacy Project hosted a symposium to discuss ways to address the nursing shortage in Ventura County and how to increase the number of Hispanic nurses. Ventura County Star.