Latest California Healthline Stories
Clinton Measure Would Boost Brain Injury Care for Troops
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) introduces legislation that would allocate $3.75 million for improving diagnosis and care for returning troops with traumatic brain injuries. Long Island Newsday, New York Times.
County Coalition Aims To Prevent Childhood Obesity
A Contra Costa County coalition by November hopes to release an action plan that will outline a broad approach to preventing childhood obesity, which health officials say has reached epidemic proportions in the region and nationwide. Contra Costa Times.
HHS OIG To Review Conflicts of Interest for NIH Grantees, Employees
HHS Inspector General Daniel Levinson announces that investigators will examine conflict-of-interest policies at NIH regarding grantees. AP/New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Hospital News Roundup for March 30
Community Regional Medical Center set to finalize merger with University Medical Center in Fresno; some physicians at Paradise Valley Hospital in National City criticize new administrators’ policies. Fresno Bee et al.
Senate To Consider Bill for Medicare Rx Price Negotiations
The Senate Finance Committee plans to consider legislation that would allow the federal government to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit after the spring recess. CongressDaily.
Smoking Ban, Sperm Donor Bills Clear First Hurdle
Under a bill approved by the Senate Health Committee, drivers in California could face penalties of up to $350 for smoking in a car with children present. The committee also approved proposed revisions to sperm donor policies. San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
Study: Antidepressants Not Effective for Bipolarity
Antidepressants are ineffective in relieving the depressive or manic symptoms associated with bipolar disorder, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal.
Senate To Debate Stem Cell Bills After Recess
One measure would allow federal funding for research using stem cells derived from embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients, while another piece of legislation would fund research on stem cells taken from “dead” human embryos or extracted from living embryos without destroying them. CongressDaily.