Latest California Healthline Stories
Physician Access to Information Technology Up
The percentage of physicians who have access to information technology has increased over the past four years, according to a report. AP/Houston Chronicle.
Voters Decide on Hospital-Related Ballot Measures
San Francisco voters rejected a ballot measure related to treating psychiatric patients at Laguna Honda Hospital, while unofficial data indicate that voters in two San Diego County health care districts likely approved bond measures to fund seismic retrofitting projects and other construction. San Francisco Examiner et al.
Conference Will Address Health Literacy
Limited health literacy can lead to prescription medication errors and difficulty understanding informed-consent instructions, health pamphlets, insurance applications, appointment schedules and following physician directions. Chicago Tribune.
Deadline Approaches for Medicaid Citizenship Requirement
Medicaid enrollees and applicants must provide documents that prove U.S. citizenship beginning on July 1. AP/Indianapolis Star, San Diego Union-Tribune.
Companies Have $321B Deficit for Retiree Benefits
Companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index that offer retiree health benefits have a combined deficit of $321 billion for future obligations, a survey found. Wall Street Journal.
Editorials: Stem Cell Agency Should Require Financial Disclosure
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine should adopt policies that require researchers to disclose financial conflicts, two editorials state. Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News.
Hospital Quality Data Not Released
Los Angeles County health officials will not release data related to quality measures at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, saying that doing so could discourage employees from reporting problems. Los Angeles Times.
Kaiser Permanente Avoids Pharmacist Strike
Kaiser Permanente and its Northern California pharmacists resolved contract disputes involving wages and retirement benefits days before a planned strike. Sacramento Bee.
Syphilis Cases Up in Los Angeles County
The number of syphilis cases in Los Angeles County increased in 2005, with men who have sex with men accounting for the majority of cases. Los Angeles Times.
FDA Approves Restricted Return of Tysabri
FDA and Tysabri’s manufacturers have agreed to a risk-management plan that will require doctors and other medical professionals to obtain additional training in order to provide the treatment. New York Times et al.