Latest California Healthline Stories
Republican Legislators Completing Bill To Protect Avian Flu Vaccine Makers
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) on Wednesday said that lawmakers are “pretty close to an agreement” on legislation that would provide liability protection to drug and vaccine manufacturers who produce experimental vaccines against avian flu, CQ Today reports.
House OKs Bill To Prevent Required Student Use of Psychotropic Drugs
The House on Wednesday voted 407-12 to approve a bill (HR 1790) that would require states to establish policies under which schools cannot require students to take psychotropic medications as a condition of attendance, CQ Today reports.
San Joaquin County Landowners Approve Tax for Mosquito Surveillance
More than 70% of landowners in San Joaquin County approved a $6.13 homeowner’s tax increase to fund local mosquito control efforts, the Stockton Record reports.
The state could have $5.2 billion in extra revenue at the end of this fiscal year in June, meaning no new program cuts or tax increases would be needed to balance the state budget, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Hospital Infections Add $1.4B to Pennsylvania Medicare, Medicaid Bills
Medicare and Medicaid were billed for about 76% of the 11,668 cases of hospital-acquired infections in Pennsylvania hospitals in 2004, with charges totaling nearly $1.4 billion for the government programs, according to a study released on Thursday by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Many Pharmaceutical Companies Plan To Eliminate Charitable Programs
The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday examined pharmaceutical companies that plan to eliminate charitable prescription drug programs for seniors enrolled in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Kaiser Permanente Launches Web-based Program for Medical Care
Kaiser Permanente on Wednesday launched a program for its 3.2 million members in Northern California that allows them to view lab results and other medical information online, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Illinois Governor Signs Bill To Establish All Kids Program
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on Tuesday signed a bill that will establish a program to extend health coverage to all uninsured children in the state, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports.
Los Angeles County Approves Plan for Proposition 63 Funds
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to approve a three-year spending plan for $280 million in funds from Proposition 63 for the county’s mental health system, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Medicaid Budget Provisions Would Reduce Benefits for 5M by 2015
Provisions in the House budget reconciliation bill (HR 4241) that would increase Medicaid “flexibility” for states would reduce benefits for 2.5 million beneficiaries by 2010 and for five million beneficiaries by 2015, according to a recent analysis conducted by the Congressional Budget Office, CQ HealthBeat reports.