Latest California Healthline Stories
S.F. Fire Department Loses Control of Ambulances
California officials have taken away the San Francisco Fire Department’s control of emergency ambulance services, citing the lack of competition among the city’s emergency medical care providers. The decision is expected to force San Francisco officials to put emergency ambulance services to competitive bid. San Francisco Chronicle.
Editorial Makes Case for School Lunch Enrollment Bill
An editorial urges Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to sign legislation designed to make it easier for eligible California children to receive low- or no-cost or free school meals. The bill would allow eligible children in Medi-Cal to be enrolled automatically in school lunch programs. Sacramento Bee.
UC-Merced Moves Forward With Medical School Proposal
UC-Merced is moving forward with its medical school proposal by creating a planning office and naming Maria Pallavicini, dean of the School of Natural Sciences, as vice provost for health sciences. The medical school could open by 2013. Stockton Record.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of Sept. 15
The governor of Mississippi withdrew plans to cut Medicaid and increase hospital taxes after the state received more than $90 million in federal repayments for Medicaid. Meanwhile, South Carolina’s governor urged lawmakers to avoid major budget cuts to health care and education.
UC-San Diego Directs Funding for New Faculty to Pharmacy School
The dean of the UC-San Diego pharmacy school said it needed an additional $3 million per year to hire more faculty before it reapplies for accreditation next year. The pharmacy school at UC-San Francisco also is experiencing funding challenges. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Walgreen Makes Rival Bid for Longs Drugs Stores
Late Friday, Walgreen made a surprise $75-per-share bid for Longs Drug Stores. Walgreen’s $2.7 billion offer tops CVS Caremark’s earlier offer of $2.57 billion. The competing bids put Walgreen and CVS Caremark in a battle for West Coast dominance. Wall Street Journal.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of Sept. 12, 2008
San Joaquin Community Hospital announced a major donation for its new burn center, and UC-San Francisco was slated to break ground on a new complex to house its integrative medicine center. Meanwhile, Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital is raising funds to maintain inpatient services.
Kennedy To Introduce National Service Legislation
Sen. Edward Kennedy plans to introduce legislation today that would provide an estimated $5 billion over five years to recruit 175,000 U.S. residents of all ages to do service work in health, education, environmental protection and anti-poverty programs. The volunteers’ work would be subsidized partly by the federal government. Boston Globe.
Telemedicine Aids Exams of Sexual Assault Victims
A telemedicine program allows sexual assault experts at UC-Davis Medical Center in Sacramento to connect via videoconferencing equipment with nurses and doctors at Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital in San Andreas to guide examinations of sexual assault victims. Stockton Record.