Latest California Healthline Stories
Garamendi Opposes PacifiCare-UnitedHealth Merger
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) on Tuesday said that he would oppose the proposed $8.1-billion merger of PacifiCare Health Systems with UnitedHealth Group unless he received assurances that the deal would not result in increased premiums for state residents, the Los Angeles Times reports.
FDA Comment Period on Application for OTC Plan B Ends
The 60-day public comment period on whether to allow nonprescription sales of Barr Laboratories’ emergency contraceptive Plan B expired on Tuesday with up to 10,000 comments submitted to FDA, the Washington Post reports.
Department of Health Services Cites Nursing Home in Death of Patient
The Department of Health Services issued a AA citation and a $90,000 fine to the Shields Richmond Nursing Center after the investigation of the death of a 60-year-old patient, officials announced Monday, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Officials Attribute Decrease in Overdoses in San Francisco to ‘Harm Reduction’ Training
The rate of fatal heroin overdoses in San Francisco has reached its lowest level in nearly 10 years, with public health officials attributing the decline in part to “harm reduction” training for people with substance abuse problems, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Newspapers Examine Advertisement Addressing Ballot Measures Supported by Schwarzenegger
The AP/San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday published an analysis of a television commercial by Courage Campaign, a spinoff group from the political advocacy organization Moveon.org, that recommends that state residents vote against Propositions 73 and 78 on the Nov. 8 special election ballot, as well as other initiatives supported by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).
Changes to Workers’ Compensation System Affect Medical Treatment for Claimants, CMA Report States
Some insurers are delaying treatment for workers’ compensation claimants and some doctors are threatening to stop treating workers’ compensation patients because of difficulty securing claims payments, according to a report released on Monday by the California Medical Association, the Los Angeles Times reports.
DOD Health Official Warns Against Proposed TRICARE Expansion
Senate legislation that would allow National Guard members and reservists who are not on active duty to enroll in the new TRICARE Reserve Select program would increase costs for the military health care system, according to William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary for health affairs at the Department of Defense, the Honolulu Advertiser reports.
Newspapers Examine Medicare Drug Benefit
Several articles recently examined issues related to the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Hearing Addresses Royalties From Proposition 71-Funded Research
State lawmakers at a joint committee hearing in San Francisco on Monday discussed issues surrounding the debate over whether the state legally can seek royalty payments from stem cell treatments developed using Proposition 71 funding, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Lieberman, Hatch Introduce Bill Addressing Racial Disparities in Health Care
Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) last week introduced a bill (S 1929) called FairCare, which is intended to address deficiencies in health care for racial and ethnic minorities, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.