Latest California Healthline Stories
California Takes Part in Nationwide Study on Children’s Health
The National Children’s Study will track 100,000 children before birth through age 21 to better understand what factors are causing increases in diabetes, obesity, autism and other conditions. Several California regions were chosen for the study. Ventura County Star et al.
Financial Crunch Wears on Southern California Hospitals
A Los Angeles Times reporter, hospital executives and a Los Angeles County health official discuss overcrowding and financial problems facing hospitals in Southern California. NPR’s “News & Notes,” KPCC’s “AirTalk.”
Results of Stem Cell Bonds Sale Exceed State Expectations
Individual investors purchased $102.8 million of the $250 million in available bonds — three times the amount the state expected. Eighteen institutional investors purchased the remaining bonds, which will fund stem cell research in California. Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune.
Uninsured Nonelderly U.S. Residents Up 17.9% in 2006
A report by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that the number of uninsured U.S. residents younger than 65 increased to 46.4 million people in 2006. The findings could indicate that the decline in employer-based coverage is not being offset by expansions in public programs, according to the report. Kansas City Star.
Microsoft Unveils No-Cost Online Health Care Tools
Microsoft has launched a Web site, called HealthVault, that lets consumers securely store and share their personal health information. Microsoft plans to support HealthVault through revenue from advertisements from a health information search engine linked with the Web site. AP/Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
California Weighs Impact of Veto of Kids’ Health Bill
A San Mateo County health official said a lack of adequate funding for Healthy Families, California’s version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, would force the state to cap enrollment or drop coverage. On Wednesday, President Bush vetoed a bill to expand the program. Oakland Tribune.
FDA Announces Plan To Speed Generic Drug Application Reviews
FDA on average exceeds the federal law for time spent processing generic drug applications by 10 to 11 months. Some of the planned changes to speed up the process include expediting reviews of drugs without generic alternatives and adding more staff. AP/Chicago Tribune et al.