Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospital Turns Down Organ Donations, Despite Need Among Patients
More than 30 patients at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center died awaiting liver transplants after the hospital turned down organ donations because of staffing shortages, according to a CMS report, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Federal Trade Commission To Investigate Authorized Generic Medications
The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday told Congress that it will study pharmaceutical companies’ practice of launching generic versions of their own brand-name drugs when patents expire or are challenged successfully in court, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Unions Vow To Remain Unified in 2006 To Push for New Health Legislation
Twelve labor groups — representing 2.5 million workers — that formed the Alliance for a Better California during the special election said they will continue to work together to advocate universal health care and other issues, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
California Healthline Highlights Recent Medical Marijuana News
Officials in Alameda, Butte and San Diego counties and Santa Cruz recently acted on issues related to medical marijuana. Summaries appear below.
CMS Takes Steps To Ensure Prescription Drug Coverage for Dual Eligibles
CMS Administrator Mark McClellan on Tuesday in a speech to state Medicaid directors addressed concerns that dual eligibles — individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid — will “fall between the cracks” when their prescription drug coverage switches from Medicaid to Medicare, CQ HealthBeat reports.
U.S. Syphilis Rate Increases for Fourth Consecutive Year, CDC Finds
The national rate of syphilis increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2004, while the gonorrhea rate hit a record low, according to an annual report on sexually transmitted diseases released by CDC on Tuesday, Reuters reports.
19 State Legislatures Consider Health Care Expansion in 2005
Legislatures in at least 19 states have considered proposals in 2005 to expand health coverage, up from 12 in 2003, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, USA Today reports.
Sacramento Bee Looks at Shift Away From Employer-Sponsored HMO Plans
The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday examined the rising cost of health care in California, which is causing “a whirlwind shift away from health-maintenance organizations toward other kinds of insurance that offer fewer benefits at a lower price.”
Parental Notification Measure Defeated on Special Election Ballot
California voters narrowly rejected Proposition 73 in Tuesday’s special election, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Schwarzenegger Calls for Elimination of Some Health-Related Proposals in Federal Budget Package
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Monday in a letter to the California Congressional Delegation wrote that some proposals included in the federal House Budget Reconciliation package — including some related to Medicaid funding — would “disproportionately impact California” and should be revised or eliminated.