Latest California Healthline Stories
Sears To Eliminate Health Insurance Subsidy for Some Retirees
Sears Holdings on Thursday announced that retirees younger than age 65 will have to cover the full cost of their health insurance after this year, the Chicago Tribune reports.
CMS To Announce Companies Participating in Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
CMS on Friday released the “first details” about which companies will be providing prescription drug coverage under the new Medicare drug benefit, AP/Yahoo! News reports.
Senators Propose Delaying Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit by Two Years
Senate Republicans on Thursday announced plans to release a set of proposals for offsetting spending related to recovery efforts for Hurricane Katrina, including a plan to delay by two years the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, CongressDaily reports.
Higher Health Insurance Costs Could Cause Increase in Number of Uninsured Children in California
Half of California’s poorest children will receive health coverage from publicly funded programs and 20% will be uninsured by 2010 if health insurance cost increases are not addressed, according to a study from researchers at the University of California-Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education and Working Partnerships USA, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Lockyer, Food Industry Debate Warning Labels for Acrylamide
The New York Times on Wednesday examined the “showdown” between Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) and the food industry over whether packages for foods such as french fries and potato chips packages should include warning labels about acrylamide, a chemical found in certain foods that might cause cancer.
Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments to Board of Behavioral Sciences
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Monday announced several appointments to state boards, including the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Bustamante Appoints Stem Cell Committee Member
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante (D) on Wednesday appointed Marcy Feit, president and CEO of ValleyCare Health System, to serve on the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the Contra Costa Times reports.
San Diego County Doctors Propose Regional Stroke System, Concerns Mount Over Implementation
A group of San Diego County doctors have called for the county health department to establish a regional stroke care system similar to the county’s six-hospital trauma network, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Bakersfield Californian Includes Discussion of Parental Notification Measure
The Bakersfield Californian on Thursday included a discussion held on Tuesday with its editorial board and supporters and opponents of Proposition 73, a measure on the Nov. 8 special election ballot that would amend the state constitution to require health care providers to notify a parent or guardian 48 hours before performing an abortion on an unmarried minor.
Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission Approves Proposition 63 Spending Plans, KPCC Reports
The Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission on Tuesday approved a spending plan for funds from Proposition 63, a November 2004 ballot measure that increased the state income tax by 1% for state residents whose annual incomes exceed $1 million to fund mental health services, KPCC’s “KPCC News” reports.