Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate Approves Bill To Extend Emergency Drug Coverage for Dual Eligibles
The Senate on Monday approved legislation (SB 1233) to extend for up to 90 days an emergency aid program that covers prescription drug costs for people dually eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Ballot Measure Would Give Long-Term Care Patients Priority Admission at Hospital
Patients in need of long-term care would receive priority admission at Laguna Honda Hospital under an initiative that could appear on the June ballot, the San Francisco Examiner reports.
San Mateo Medical Center Implements Measures To Improve Patient Safety
San Mateo Medical Center has implemented several new strategies — such as creating rapid-response teams and developing programs to prevent post-operation infections — to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors, the San Francisco Examiner reports.
Nissan To Cut Retiree Health Benefits
Japanese automaker Nissan will cut health insurance and pension benefits for U.S. employees in what the company calls an effort to “remain competitive,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Bush Sends Budget Proposal To Congress
President Bush on Monday sent a fiscal year 2007 budget proposal to Congress that includes spending cuts for Medicare and other programs and that is expected to “be a tough sell, especially in an election year,” USA Today reports.
Health Officials From Five Counties Support Central Valley Mental Health Program for Youths
Health directors from Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Madera and Merced counties have submitted letters of intent to Kaweah Delta District Hospital to aid in the development of an inpatient mental health program for children and teenagers in the Central Valley, the Fresno Bee reports.
Parental Notification Supporters Gather Signatures for November Ballot Measure
Supporters of Proposition 73, a failed ballot measure that would have required doctors to notify parents or guardians before performing an abortion on a minor, are circulating a petition to qualify a similar initiative for the November ballot, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports.
EDs Divert an Ambulance Every Minute in the U.S.
An ambulance in the U.S. is diverted to a different hospital every minute, on average, because of emergency department overcrowding or bed shortages, according to a study released on Monday by the National Center for Health Statistics, the Boston Herald reports.
San Diego County Lawsuit Against Marijuana Laws Withdrawn, Refiled
San Diego County on Wednesday withdrew a federal lawsuit challenging state marijuana laws and filed “essentially the same” lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Drug Pricing Lawsuit Wins Class-Action Status
A federal judge on Wednesday granted class-action status to a lawsuit alleging that several drug makers inflated the figures used by the government to calculate the costs of drugs administered by doctors, Bloomberg/Asbury Park Press reports.