Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Reform News Around the Nation: Nov. 12, 2007
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announces the details of his plan to expand health insurance to all children in the state beginning next year, while a West Virginia pilot project aims to provide coverage to children who do not qualify for other government programs.
California Cited as National Model for Stem Cell Funding
New Jersey advocates of a failed state ballot measure to finance stem cell research contrasted their lackluster efforts to California, where a more united and wealthier campaign helped approve $3 billion in stem cell research funding in 2004. New York Times.
Merck Reaches $4.85B Vioxx Settlement To End Thousands of Lawsuits
The agreement, which covers about 27,000 plaintiffs, is a fraction of the $25 billion some analysts had estimated Merck would pay to settle Vioxx lawsuits. The company withdrew the drug in 2004 over cardiovascular concerns. New York Times et al.
New Funding Propels Van Nuys Mental Health Center
The San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, opened six months ago, seeks to provide services to low-income elderly residents with mental illnesses. Funding for the program comes from Proposition 63. Los Angeles Daily News.
House Lacks Votes To Override Likely Budget Veto
The House passed a $606 billion fiscal year 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill but is without enough votes to override a threatened presidential veto. The House also approved a FY 2008 Defense appropriations bill that Bush has said he will sign. CQ Today et al.
Bill Clinton Says He Deserves Blame for Failed Health Reform
Former President Bill Clinton said health care reform efforts under his administration failed for a number of reasons, including funding issues and opposition in Congress, and that his wife is not solely responsible for the failure. AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune et al.
Manor Care Draws Criticism for Reorganization Efforts
Carlyle Group plans to reorganize Manor Care into separate operational and real estate entities after completing its acquisition of the nursing home chain. Critics say other companies have used similar plans to minimize liabilities and improve profit margins. Washington Post.
Looming Budget Deficit Hangs Over California Health Reform Talks
Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democrats want to keep health care reform negotiations separate from next year’s budget talks, but budget experts warn that some options for covering the deficit are being taken off the table to deal with health care reform. Sacramento Bee et al.