Latest California Healthline Stories
Wal-Mart Stores To Expand Generic Prescription Drug Program Earlier Than Expected
Wal-Mart Stores announces that the statewide expansion of a pilot program in Florida under which some company pharmacies will sell 30-day prescriptions of some generic medications for $4 will occur on Friday, three months earlier than expected. Orlando Sentinel et al.
PBS Series Examines Efforts To Reform U.S. Health Care System
A four-part series will feature reports on efforts to increase patient safety and reduce medical errors, among other efforts to improve the U.S. health care system. PBS et al.
Advocacy Groups Ask CMS To Improve Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Appeals Process
The National Senior Citizens Law Center, the Center for Medicare Advocacy and the Medicare Rights Center ask CMS Administrator Mark McClellan to make the appeals process for the Medicare prescription drug benefit work more fairly and efficiently. CQ HealthBeat.
Stem Cell Patents To Be Reviewed
Two consumer advocacy groups are challenging patents on a stem cell research technique that some people say could have implications for projects funded by California’s stem cell research program. New York Times et al.
Nursing Schools Reject Increased Number of Applicants Over Lack of Faculty Members
Nursing schools nationwide rejected more than 41,000 qualified applicants in 2005, compared with 33,000 in 2004 and 18,000 in 2003, according to an annual survey. USA Today.
Survey Finds Prescription Drug Abuse Among Teens
A survey designed to gauge teenagers’ use of illicit drugs for the first time this year included questions about nonmedical prescription drug use, and state officials said more resources will be directed to preventing such abuse. Ventura County Star et al.
Nurses: Will Strike if Labor Board Ruling Enforced
The California Nurses Association is concerned that hospitals could use the ruling to reclassify nurses as supervisors, which would make them ineligible for union representation, and said nurses are prepared to strike if the ruling is enforced. Contra Costa Times.
Record Number of Flu Vaccines To Be Available This Season
A record number of seasonal flu vaccinations is expected to be available for the 2006-2007 flu season beginning next month. Baltimore Sun et al.
Doctors, Medical Groups Debate ‘Balance Billing’ Regulations
The state is drafting regulations to ban a practice known as “balance billing,” in which doctors bill patients for costs not covered by their HMOs, but doctors say the rules could make it harder for emergency departments to recruit specialists. Sacramento Bee.
Tobacco Companies Say Cigarette Tax Would Allow Hospitals To ‘Conspire To Fix Prices’
Opponents of a measure on the November ballot that would increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes to fund health programs are highlighting provisions of the initiative that would allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to hospitals. Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register.