Latest California Healthline Stories
Novel Addressing Reimportation To Debut in December
The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday examined the controversy surrounding a novel due out in December that originally was commissioned by a pharmaceutical consultant and a Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America official, but has turned into “an impossible-to-make-up public-relations disaster.”
Oakland Schools Pay More Than $2M on Benefits for Dependents No Longer Eligible for Coverage
The Oakland Unified School District spent more than $2 million last year on health insurance benefits for employees’ former spouses and grown children who were no longer eligible for coverage, according to a recent audit, the Oakland Tribune reports.
BIO Lawsuit Challenges Washington, D.C., Price Control Law
The Biotechnology Industry Organization on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the Washington, D.C., government in U.S. District Court alleging that a new law regulating the prices of prescription drugs will “import a system of price controls” that will limit drug research and development, the Washington Times reports.
Sacramento County Steering Committee Proposes Mental Health Programs
Sacramento County should use funds from Proposition 63 to fund six new mental health programs that would serve hundreds more people and possibly create permanent housing for people with mental illnesses, according to a report released Monday by the county steering committee, the Sacramento Bee reports.
USA Today Examines Increased Grace Period for FSAs
USA Today on Tuesday examined the Treasury Department’s decision in May to allow companies to give employees with flexible-spending accounts until March 15 to spend money in the accounts before forfeiting the funds.
FDA To Consider Use of Celebrities To Advertise Rx Drugs
FDA on Tuesday and Wednesday will hold meetings to consider issues related to direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs, including the use of paid celebrities to promote products, the Boston Globe reports.
State Officials, Patient Advocates Concerned About Transition To Medicare Drug Benefit
State officials and patient advocates are “worried” about contacting beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare “to alert them to the upcoming change” to their prescription drug benefits on Jan. 1, 2006, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Congress Set for Debate on Budget Reconciliation Packages
The Senate on Monday will begin 20 hours of debate on a fiscal year 2006 budget reconciliation package (S 1932) that would make $39.1 billion in cuts over five years to mandatory programs, CQ Today reports.
Parental Notification Measure Galvanizes Voter-Turnout Efforts, Interest in Other Measures
Churches, women’s groups and other organizations with strong views about Proposition 73 are focusing on increasing turnout for the Nov. 8 special election, and the effectiveness of these groups’ efforts could have ramifications for other ballot measures proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), the Sacramento Bee reports.
Bush Nominates Alito to U.S. Supreme Court
President Bush on Monday morning nominated 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Samuel Alito to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the Washington Post reports.