Latest California Healthline Stories
California Drug Maker Draws Attention for Lobbying
California-based Amgen had more than 150 lobbyists on call in 2007, spending about $16.3 million to make the company’s case to lawmakers on a variety of issues. Amgen, a biotechnology firm, was ranked as the company with the ninth-largest lobbying expenditures for 2007. Washington Post.
Investigation Prompts S.F. Mayor To Order Changes to 911 System
Mayor Gavin Newsom’s directives to recruit more 911 dispatchers and adopt a computer system for first responders came after a newspaper analysis of 911 dispatch logs found that first responders were missing the city’s goal response time in 27% of cases. San Francisco Chronicle.
California Lawmakers Question Timing, Cost of Prison Health Care Plan
The court-appointed receiver of California’s prison health care system urged lawmakers to act quickly and approve his $7 billion plan to build new health care facilities and upgrade existing facilities. He hopes to begin construction by June. Los Angeles Times et al.
Emissions at Riverside County Plant Carcinogenic
The head of the South Coast Air Quality Management District said that emissions from a cement factory are high enough that the factory’s owner must warn local residents of health risks from a chemical emitted at the plant. The substance — chromium 6 — has been linked to nasal and lung cancer. Los Angeles Times.
Hospital Jobs a Replacement for Manufacturing Positions
Government data show that hiring is on the rise in the health care sector, while job losses continue to mount in the manufacturing arena. Health care jobs could help blunt the effect of a downturn in the economy, but some experts warn that the jobs could make local economies increasingly dependent on government spending through Medicare and other programs. Wall Street Journal.
WellPoint, FDA Partner on Rx Drug Surveillance System
Indianapolis-based WellPoint is set to announce a partnership with FDA to use the insurer’s database of 35 million members to scan for potentially harmful side effects of medications. The system is scheduled to launch next year. Other insurers also use their member databases to screen for side effects. Wall Street Journal.
Bill Could Pave Way for Expanded Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans
The bill would create a pilot project requiring seniors and those with disabilities to enroll in Medi-Cal managed care plans. The bill also could lead to a statewide requirement for managed care plans, which could save as much as $192 million annually. Sacramento Business Journal.
Documentary Profiles Health Systems of Wealthy Nations
A documentary airing tonight on PBS’ “Frontline” examines health care in five capitalist countries — the U.K., Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland — to explore lessons for the U.S. health care system. In conjunction with the film, NPR throughout the week is profiling the health systems of wealthy nations. PBS’ “Frontline,” NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
Supporters of Parental Notification Back Updated Ballot Initiative
The measure would require the parents of girls under the age of 18 to be notified before the girls could undergo an abortion in California. State voters have rejected the measure both times it appeared on the ballot in the past three years. San Diego Union-Tribune.
San Francisco Misses Goals on Emergency Response Times
A newspaper investigation found that first responders in San Francisco did not make it to the scene of a high-priority medical call within 6.5 minutes — the city’s goal — in more than a quarter of cases. Experts say the city needs to recruit more 911 dispatchers and add more ambulances to its fleet, while citing Seattle’s emergency response system as a model of efficiency. San Francisco Chronicle.