Latest California Healthline Stories
Legislation To Regulate Tissue Donation Expected
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday announced that he is proposing legislation that would regulate tissue transplants and donations, Long Island Newsday reports.
Beneficiaries Confused by Medicare Drug Benefit
Two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries who have enrolled in the new prescription drug benefit are confused by the program, according to a recent Associated Press/Ipsos poll, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.
Emergency Drug Supply for Dual Eligibles Approved
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Friday signed legislation (AB 132) that will provide as much as $150 million to provide prescription drug coverage for state residents who have been unable to obtain medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Fourth-Quarter Earnings Up for UnitedHealth
UnitedHealth Group, the second-largest U.S. health insurer by membership, on Thursday reported that fourth-quarter earnings increased by 18% to $870 million, or 65 cents per share, from $739 million, or 54 cents per share, a year earlier, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Bush Proposes Expansion of HSAs
President Bush on Saturday in his weekly radio address said he plans to help reduce health care costs by pushing for an expansion of health savings accounts, Reuters/Houston Chronicle reports.
Flu Cases Might Have Peaked, Incidence Declining
Influenza in California might have reached its peak for the season, state health officials said, the Sacramento Bee reports.
FDA To Improve Medical Device Guidelines
FDA last week announced that it will take steps to improve its monitoring of medical devices after they have been approved, the New York Times reports.
Group Suggests Intellectual Property Guidelines for Stem Cell Institute
The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is expected to release a report on Monday outlining policies it suggests the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine adopt to make stem cell-based therapies developed using Proposition 71 funding affordable and accessible to state residents, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Many People Believe Cancer Is Unpreventable
Forty-seven percent of U.S. residents believe they have little or no control in reducing their risk of cancer, according to a survey commissioned by the American Cancer Society, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.
Hospitals Implement Video Translation Service
A video-based translation service soon will be launched at two public hospitals in Contra Costa and San Mateo counties, and it could be implemented in Southern California facilities by the end of 2006, the Stockton Record reports.