Latest California Healthline Stories
County Hospitals Receive Funding for Immigrant Care
Orange County hospitals received $1.3 million for providing emergency care to undocumented immigrants last year, but the funding represents just a fraction of uncompensated care costs at local hospitals. Orange County Register.
Transplant Centers Do Not Meet CMS Standards
About 20% of federally funded transplant programs do not meet minimum CMS standards on minimum number of procedures and minimum survival rate. Los Angeles Times.
Emergency Medical Services Commissioners Named
Gov. Schwarzenegger appointed three members to the Commission on Emergency Medical Services. Office of the Governor.
Medicaid Proof-of-Citizenship Law Challenged
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of nine plaintiffs who say they cannot document their citizenship and might lose their Medicaid benefits if the law is implemented. Plaintiffs are seeking to eliminate the requirement. New Orleans Times-Picayune.
County Ends Children’s Mental Health Services Contracts
The Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services will take over mental health services for about 900 children because officials say the county can no longer afford private contracts. Fresno Bee.
CMS Releases Details on Drug Plan Regulation
CMS said agency officials have sent warning letters to prescription drug plans 651 times and have ordered health insurers to submit plans for service improvements 318 times. AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
First California Vioxx Lawsuit Begins
A 71-year-old patient alleged that Vioxx caused him to experience a heart attack in September 2001, more than two years after he began to take the medication. About 2,100 Vioxx lawsuits have been filed in California. AP/Contra Costa Times et al.
Bill Would Limit Smoking in Vehicles
Legislation approved by the Senate Health Committee would impose fines for smoking in a vehicle with a young child present. Contra Costa Times.
UC-Merced Medical School Planning Continues
A partnership between the University of California-Merced, UC-San Francisco at Fresno and UC-Davis to create a medical school program at UC-Merced could increase the number of specialty doctors in the area. Fresno Bee.
Spending Measures on Ballot Face Challenges
Tobacco companies are expected to mount a costly campaign against a measure to increase the state tobacco tax for health programs, and other factors could pose obstacles for spending measures on the November statewide ballot. Los Angeles Times.