Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate To Vote on Budget Reconciliation Bill
The Senate on Thursday is expected to vote on the budget reconciliation bill (S 1932) after considering amendments, CongressDaily reports.
White House Threatens To Veto Senate Budget Reconciliation Over Medicare Changes
The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto the Senate budget reconciliation bill (S 1932) if lawmakers do not remove a provision that would phase out a fund created two years ago to encourage insurers to offer prescription drug coverage under the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports.
Supporters, Opponents of Proposition 73 Look to Other States With Parental Notification Laws
Supporters and opponents to Proposition 73 are both “using the experience of other states” to strengthen their campaigns, Los Angeles Times reports.
Low-Income Women Might Benefit From Faster Tests for Cervical Cancer
Low-income women in the U.S. and developing countries who have limited access to health care and are at high risk of developing cervical cancer might benefit more from two simplified and quicker types of screening and treatment instead of traditional testing and treatment, according to two studies published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New York Times reports
Bush Releases $7.1B Pandemic Flu Preparation Plan
President Bush on Tuesday announced that he will ask Congress for $7.1 billion in emergency funding for a flu pandemic preparation strategy that calls for improving disease surveillance, stockpiling and boosting production of antiviral medications and vaccines, and increasing preparedness among state and local governments, the Washington Times reports.
Wholesale Drug Prices Increase at Twice Inflation Rate, AARP Report Finds
Wholesale prices for brand-name prescription drugs increased at twice the inflation rate for the one-year period that ended on June 30, according to a report released on Wednesday by AARP, USA Today reports.
FDA Hears Recommendations on Regulations for DTC Drug Ads
FDA on Tuesday began two days of hearings to determine whether and how direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs should be regulated, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Opinion Pieces Debate Merits of Single-Payer Health Care
The Fresno Bee on Monday published a point/counterpoint addressing the creation of a single-payer health care system in the U.S.
Medi-Cal Formulary, Lawsuit Provisions Spur Opposition to Proposition 79
Provisions of Proposition 79 relating to medications’ inclusion on to the Medi-Cal formulary and lawsuits against pharmaceutical firms have contributed to drug makers’ opposition to the measure and support for Proposition 78 in the Nov. 8 special election, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Three Health-Related Ballot Measures Behind in Poll
Opposition exceeds support for Propositions 73, 78 and 79, the three health care-related measures in the Nov. 8 special election, according to the latest Field Poll released on Wednesday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.