Latest California Healthline Stories
Children’s Health Proposal Includes Public-Private Funding
Ventura County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston recommends against establishing an insurance program modeled after the Children’s Health Initiative, but his counterproposal retains elements of public-private partnerships. Ventura County Star.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Decrease
Workers’ compensation benefits for people with injuries and permanent disabilities declined by about half after new regulations took effect. Democratic legislators are seeking revisions to the rules to expand benefits.
Universities Tell Students of Contraceptive Risks
An FDA warning on the contraceptive patch prompts some Inland university clinics to stop issuing new prescriptions, and others have sent letters to students with prescriptions alerting them to the risks. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Bush Budget Proposal Would Eliminate Six HHS Programs
President Bush’s budget proposal would eliminate HHS programs, including programs that fund health care services for low-income people and training programs in the health professions. CQ HealthBeat.
Mixing Patients, Inmates Poses ‘Grave’ Danger, Report States
A Los Angeles County grand jury recommends that the county immediately stop placing inmates in open hospital wards because of potential dangers to other patients and staff. A telemedicine program and physician-visitation program are in the works to help address the issue.
County Health Department Must Reduce Spending by April
Reducing spending on some programs and services could lead to a loss of state and federal funding for Contra Costa County Health Services. To avoid such cuts, the county is seeking wage and benefit concessions from some employees, the Contra Costa Times reports.
States Consider Encouraging Increased Use of HSAs
Florida, Oklahoma and South Carolina are among states taking steps to encourage participation in health savings accounts.
Receiver Selected for Prison Health Care System
Santa Clara County’s health chief is expected to take over the California prison health care system.
FDA Will Address Deaths of Four California Women
An FDA conference will consider the deaths of four California women after they took a prescription drug to induce a medical abortion.
Medicare Drug Benefit ‘Is Working,’ U.S. Representative Says
Savings from the Medicare drug benefit are expected to be greater than previous estimates, and funds will be returned to California and other states, the House Ways and Means Committee chair says in an interview.