Latest California Healthline Stories
Panel Recommends Shingles Vaccine
FDA approved the vaccine in May after a study found that individuals who received the shot developed shingles at half the rate of those who received a placebo. USA Today et al.
FDA Rejects Thimerosal Petition
The agency concluded that “all currently licensed vaccines and other pharmaceutical drug products containing thimerosal are safe.” A California law restricts use of vaccines containing the preservative in pregnant women and children. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Tobacco Tax Measure Raises Financial Concerns
Opponents say the new measure could create a “funding gap” in the state budget as tobacco purchases decline, leading to less revenue for health care programs that the tax would fund. Sacramento Bee et al.
City Issues Alert on Patient ‘Dumping’
Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center denied any wrongdoing in the case, while two ambulance companies have declined to comment. Los Angeles Daily News.
Grant Will Fund Patient Safety Initiatives
A grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation will fund patient safety initiatives at Sutter Health through 2010. The grant is believed to be one of the largest ever awarded targeting patient safety. San Mateo County Times, San Francisco Business Times.
Governor Requests Continued Funding of King/Drew
The federal government is reviewing a county proposal that is intended to save Martin Luther King Jr./Drew University Medical Center from closing by downsizing its services and transferring management to UCLA-Harbor Medical Center. Los Angeles Times.
Health Systems Offer Basic Care at No Cost
Some hospital officials have concluded that it costs less to provide preventive care at no cost to patients with chronic diseases than to provide repeat care in emergency situations. New York Times.
Report Questions Impact of Employer Insurance Mandate
A Public Policy Institute of California report found that a repealed state law would not have expanded coverage to 40% of uninsured state residents. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Drug Industry Contributing to Some GOP Campaigns
Pharmaceutical companies’ donations are motivated in large part by concern that Democrats’ taking control of Congress could result in modifications to the Medicare drug benefit that would be unfavorable to drug makers. Wall Street Journal.
Majority of Adults Dissatisfied With Health Insurance Costs
About 60% of respondents said that their health insurance costs had increased in the past year, and more than half said that they saved less as a result, according to a survey. Los Angeles Times et al.