Latest California Healthline Stories
No Timetable for Nomination of New FDA Commissioner, Leavitt Says
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Monday said that “there is no timetable” for the nomination of a permanent FDA commissioner after Lester Crawford resigned on Friday, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Schwarzenegger Signs, Vetoes Health-Related Bills
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) last week signed six health-related bills and vetoed two.
Bush Administration Asks for Reinstatement of Ban on ‘Partial-Birth’ Abortion
Bush administration attorneys on Monday announced they filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a federal ban on so-called “partial-birth” abortion that was struck down by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals because the law does not include an exception to protect a pregnant woman’s health, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Los Angeles County Proposition 63 Plan Includes Several New Centers
Mental health patients, health care providers and family members of people with mental illnesses at a public hearing last week expressed support for a comprehensive treatment approach — including housing facilities and outpatient support services — outlined in the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s proposed spending plan for funds from Proposition 63, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Hospital Liver Transplant Program Suspended, Under Investigation
The Department of Health Services will investigate the liver program at St. Vincent Medical Center, one of the largest organ transplantation centers in the state, after hospital officials suspended the program upon discovering an improper transplant to a man who was 52nd on the regional transplant list, the Los Angeles Times reports.
WellPoint Nearing Deal To Acquire N.Y.-Based WellChoice
WellPoint is “near a deal” to purchase WellChoice, the largest health insurer in New York state, for about $6.5 billion in cash and stock, the New York Times reports.
Washington Post Examines Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
The Washington Post on Tuesday examined the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and some issues related to the launch of the program.
Orange County Supervisors Expected To Limit Retiree Health Benefits for County Workers
Orange County Supervisors on Tuesday are expected to approve an agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2076 that would limit members’ county-paid retiree health benefits but increase wages for the union’s 1,200 members by 2% over the next three years, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Grassley-Baucus Hurricane Medicaid Bill Blocked; Enzi-Kennedy Bill Introduced
Senators on Monday blocked a vote on a bipartisan bill (S 1716) that would provide federally funded Medicaid coverage to Hurricane Katrina survivors, CongressDaily reports.
Hurricane Katrina Shows Need for Silicon Valley Health Data Exchange Network, Supporters Say
More than a dozen industry members on Friday will meet to discuss and outline a project in California to create a health data exchange network, saying the number of medical records lost during Hurricane Katrina could give the effort new momentum, the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reports.