Latest California Healthline Stories
Los Angeles Times Profiles Publisher, Proposition 73 Supporter James Holman
The Los Angeles Times on Monday profiled James Holman, a newspaper publisher who has contributed more than $1.1 million of the almost $1.8 million raised in support of Proposition 73, which will appear on the Nov. 8 special election ballot.
Senate Finance Committee To Consider Proposed Spending Reductions in Medicaid, Medicare
The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday as part of the fiscal year 2006 budget reconciliation process likely will mark up a proposal that would reduce spending in Medicaid and other programs, and most observers expect committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to “craft a package that has enough Republican support to clear the committee on a party-line vote,” CongressDaily reports.
Senate Republicans To Introduce Bill To Provide Incentives To Produce Avian Flu Treatments
Senate Republicans soon are expected to introduce a measure that would provide $1 billion in incentives for pharmaceutical companies to produce treatments in the event of a bioterrorist attack or epidemic of disease such as avian flu, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Axis Community Health Plans Expansion of Livermore Clinic
Axis Community Health — a Pleasanton-based not-for-profit organization that operates clinics in Pleasanton and Livermore — in spring 2006 will begin construction on a project to increase the number of exam rooms at its Livermore facility from four to nine, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Feinstein Supports Proposition 79, Opposes Proposition 78
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) supports Proposition 79 and opposes Proposition 78 and will participate in efforts to defeat a number of ballot measures on the Nov. 8 special election ballot endorsed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), the AP/Sacramento Bee reports.
Baltimore Sun Examines Potential U.S. Physician Shortage
The Baltimore Sun on Sunday examined indications of a physician shortage that potentially could increase over the next few years as baby boomers grow older and require more care.
Schwarzenegger Plans To Address Health Insurance Coverage
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in 2006 plans “to adopt some of his opponents’ most important issues as his own,” including children’s health care coverage, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Social Security Payments Rise by 4.1%, Largely Offset by Medicare Part B Premium Increases
Social Security payments will increase 4.1% for 2006, with the average retired worker receiving an additional $39 per month, the New York Times reports.
New Grassley Proposal Would Limit Medicaid Cuts With Medicare Reductions
A proposal by Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) would reduce Medicare payments to private insurance plans and home health agencies, while making “only small cuts to Medicaid,” CQ Today reports.
Crawford Reportedly Did Not Cooperate With GAO Plan B Investigation
Former FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford did not respond to requests for an interview by Government Accountability Office staff investigating the agency’s 2004 rejection of Barr Pharmaceuticals’ application to allow nonprescription sales for the emergency contraceptive Plan B, according to congressional staffers who have read GAO’s draft report on the investigation, the Washington Post reports.