Latest California Healthline Stories
NCI Cancels Subscription to Online Newsletter, Citing Budget
The National Cancer Institute on Monday said it will cancel its online subscription to the Cancer Letter, a weekly newsletter, the Washington Post reports.
Medical Board Reverses Decision on Public Censure of Doctors
The Medical Board of California will censure publicly all six Kaiser Permanente doctors involved in a patient’s death, reversing its previous position that HMOs can decide which doctors to report when they lose medical malpractice arbitration awards, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Lawyers Criticize Recommendations on Prison Health Care System Reforms
State lawyers on Monday filed a formal response with a federal judge challenging a report on prison health care that said the state corrections leaders are unable or unwilling to reform the system, the Sacramento Bee reports.
“California Connected” — a weekly, hourlong newsmagazine produced by PBS stations in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco that covers state events and issues — on Friday included an interview with Herrmann Spetzler, executive director of Open Door Community Health Centers in Arcata, about issues and potential strategies to address health care coverage in the state from a rural perspective.
CMS Ad Campaign To Promote Medicare Drug Benefit Examined
The Hill on Tuesday examined efforts by CMS to promote the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, which begins on Jan. 1, 2006.
Anti-Tobacco Advocacy Group Alleges Ads Target Latino Youths
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has asked state attorneys general to investigate an R.J. Reynolds advertising campaign for Kool cigarettes and other promotional practices used by the tobacco industry that they allege target Latino youths, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.
Mini-Clinics To Open in Longs Drugs Stores Statewide
WellnessExpress Medical Clinic plans to open 32 mini-clinics in Longs Drugs Stores across the state by the end of 2006, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
CHA Proposed Ballot Initiative Would Draw Money From Children’s Health Programs, Reiner Says
Film director Rob Reiner on Friday asked the California Hospital Association to withdraw or rewrite a ballot proposal that would increase the tobacco tax in part to help fund emergency and trauma services, saying it will draw money away from programs including First 5 California, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports.
Officials Say U.S. Not Prepared for Pandemic Flu
The U.S. currently is not prepared for a pandemic flu and will not have the manufacturing capacity to produce enough vaccine for all U.S. residents for three to five years, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said Sunday, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports.
The Sacramento Bee erroneously reported in a Nov. 7 article that recipients of grants from the California Wellness Foundation would use grant funds to lobby for Medicare reform. The grant recipients will use funds to advocate for Medicare beneficiaries as funds cannot legally be used for lobbying.