Latest California Healthline Stories
Cholesterol, Hypertension Treatment Up Among Youths
A report from Medco Health Solutions found the percentage of young adults using anticholesterol treatments increased 68% since 2001, while use of hypertension drugs rose 21%. Rising rates of the conditions and increased promotion of the drugs could be the cause. AP/Washington Times.
House Democrats, Republicans Discuss Kids’ Health Revisions
After meeting with House Democratic leaders over a possible compromise State Children’s Health Insurance Program bill, Republican lawmakers said it appears unlikely Democrats will allow enough changes to win the votes needed to override a presidential veto. CongressDaily et al.
Poll: Majority of Voters Approve of Governor’s Performance
A new Field Poll found widespread support for Gov. Schwarzenegger across party lines and also found that more voters would side with the governor over lawmakers if a conflict arose over a major issue, such as health care reform. San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee.
Pilot Project Raises Medicare Physician Payments for EHR Use
The HHS project will give additional Medicare payments to 1,200 physicians who use electronic health records. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said the program will help encourage EHR use by physicians who find the startup costs prohibitive. AP/Long Island Newsday, CongressDaily.
Democrats Mull Combining Three Major Spending Bills
The package would include the appropriations bill for HHS and the Department of Labor, which President Bush has threatened to veto. Political analysts say it is a risky strategy for Democrats because Bush could veto the entire measure. CongressDaily et al.
Ob-Gyn Residency Program Risks Losing Accreditation
A training program for new ob-gyn physicians at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield could lose accreditation in February 2008 because of conflict among its faculty. The hospital’s CEO said such a loss could make it difficult to attract resident physicians. Bakersfield Californian.
Stem Cell Service Raises Ethics Issue for Researchers
San Carlos-based StemLifeLine charges fertility clients to freeze and store spare embryos with the hope that they can be used when stem cell therapies are discovered. Stem cell supporters argue that the company is unethical and is profiting from uncertain discoveries. San Francisco Chronicle.
Leavitt To Study Dutch, Swiss Health Systems in Trip Abroad
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt will travel to the Netherlands and Switzerland next month to learn more about their health care systems, which require residents to obtain health insurance or pay a fine. Some policy experts, as well as presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards, have cited the Dutch and Swiss systems as models for U.S. reform. New York Times.
U.S. Financial Stability Requires Action on Medicare
Columnist David Broder warns that the country will be hit by high costs of Medicare and other entitlement programs as baby boomers retire. He highlights bipartisan legislation that calls for a task force to study entitlement spending. Washington Post.
Oregon Physician-Assisted Suicide Law Marks 10 Years
A decade after Oregon passed a law legalizing physician-assisted suicide, it remains the only state in the nation that allows the practice, bucking predictions that the law would be a bellwether for similar measures elsewhere. NPR’s “Day to Day.”