Latest California Healthline Stories
Ortiz, Stem Cell Board Member Disagree Over Legislation
A stem cell institute oversight board member and AIDS advocate said he is concerned about losing his position on the board after testifying against a bill that would create a ballot measure to regulate the agency. Sacramento Bee.
Workers’ Compensation Law Enters Second Year
A majority of business owners say workers’ compensation costs have been reduced by a reform law passed two years ago, but critics of the law oppose reductions to permanent disability benefits for workers. Sacramento Bee.
Chiron Shareholders Approve Acquisition
Novartis, which currently holds 44% of Chiron common shares, will pay $48 per share to acquire the remainder of the shares. San Francisco Chronicle, Wall Street Journal.
Number of U.S. Deaths Decreased by 50,000 in 2004
A preliminary CDC report found that the number of annual deaths in the U.S. decreased by 2%, or almost 50,000, in 2004. AP/Baltimore Sun et al.
Senators Voice Opposition to Uniform Food Standards Bill
Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein said they will work to defeat a bill that would create uniform national food safety standards and could preempt state laws, including California’s antitoxics law. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Lawmakers Discuss Massachusetts Health Insurance Law
Massachusetts lawmakers at a forum in Washington, D.C., discussed negotiations leading to the passage of the law. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Vote Sought on Bill To Extend Drug Benefit Enrollment
Forty-eight senators sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to bring to a vote one of the recently introduced bills to extend the enrollment deadline for the Medicare drug benefit. Boston Globe et al.
HHS Clarifies Legality of Drug Assistance Programs
An advisory opinion to Schering-Plough confirms that two of the company’s patient-assistance programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries are lawful under the prescription drug benefit. New York Times et al.
Program Allows Some Patients To Receive Home-Based Care
Acutely ill patients can receive care at home instead of in a hospital setting through a program at an Oregon VA facility. Wall Street Journal.
States File Suit Over Withheld Tobacco Settlement Payments
Attorney General Bill Lockyer and attorneys general in four other states filed lawsuits related to more than $750 million in disputed national tobacco settlement payments. Manchester Union Leader et al.