Latest California Healthline Stories
San Diego Mayor Supports Needle Exchange Program
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders (R) plans to introduce legislation to develop a needle exchange program in the city, according to a spokesperson, the San Diego-Union Tribune reports.
Benefits Program for Part-Time Workers Off to Slow Start
Although a coalition of 60 large companies last year announced the National Health Access program — a plan to offer affordable health coverage to their part-time workers, who generally are ineligible for employer-based health benefits — only 10 of the companies are actually participating so far, the Wall Street Journal reports.
UC Investigation Finds Hospital Misled Regulators
An investigation by the University of California confirmed allegations that officials at UC-Irvine Medical Center misled regulators about staffing in its liver transplant program, according to a summary report released on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Reaction Mixed to Bush Budget Proposal
Members of the Bush administration on Tuesday began to testify before Congress in support of President Bush’s $2.77 trillion budget proposal in the face of “congressional attacks” on some of the plans, including $36 billion in spending reductions for Medicare over five years and nearly $5 billion in Medicaid spending reductions over five years, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Los Angeles Health Officials Call for Additional Fluoride in County, State Water
Los Angeles County health officials on Monday called for greater use of fluoride in water throughout the county and state, after a report found that tooth decay was the most prevalent health problem among children in California, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Home Infusion Pharmacies Opt Out of Medicare Drug Benefit
Many California home infusion pharmacies, which provide intravenous drugs to patients in their homes, are declining to participate in Medicare Part D because they say reimbursement rates do not cover their costs and administrative requirements are cumbersome, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Retail Association Files Suit Against Maryland Health Insurance Law
The Retail Industry Leaders Association filed a federal suit in Baltimore on Tuesday arguing that Maryland’s Fair Share Health Care Act is illegal under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Senators Address Medicare Drug Benefit
The Hill on Wednesday published several opinion pieces by U.S. senators related to the new Medicare drug benefit.
Sleeping Pill Prescriptions Reach Record High
A record number of U.S. residents are taking prescription sleeping pills, prompting concerns that the drugs are being overprescribed “without enough regard” to potential side effects or “the implications of long-term use,” the New York Times reports.
Drugmakers Crafting Program To Address Medicare ‘Doughnut Hole’
A group of seven pharmaceutical companies is working on a plan that would provide discounted prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries whose annual drug costs fall into the so-called “doughnut hole,” or the gap in coverage under the new Medicare drug benefit, the Wall Street Journal reports.