Latest California Healthline Stories
EPA Announces Proposed Rules on Human Pesticide Studies
The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced proposed rules on human pesticide studies, the Washington Post reports.
Study Finds Decreased Teen Use of Marijuana in States With Medical Marijuana Laws
Marijuana use rates among teenagers have declined in California and nine other states that approved medical marijuana laws over the past decade, according to a study released on Wednesday by the Marijuana Policy Project, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Study Measures Smoking Rates Among Specific Populations in California
People who identify as gay or lesbian, men of Korean descent and active-duty military personnel smoke tobacco at higher rates in California than the average 15.4% rate among the general population, according to a study released on Tuesday by the Department of Health Services, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Assembly Approves Bill That Would Require Pharmacists To Fill All Prescriptions
The Assembly on Wednesday voted 47-27 to approve a bill (SB 644) by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) that would require pharmacists to fill all legal prescriptions unless they previously designate in writing their religious or moral objections to certain medications, such as emergency contraception, the AP/Sacramento Bee reports.
Legislators Delay Action on Plan To Move Medi-Cal Beneficiaries to Managed Care
Legislators on Tuesday agreed to suspend until January consideration of a proposal that would have shifted more than 500,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries to managed care plans as part of a proposal to restructure Medi-Cal in exchange for increased federal funding, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Molina Healthcare Expands San Diego County Business
Long Beach-based Molina Healthcare of California this summer added 83,000 members in San Diego County, including 71,000 members acquired for $25 million from Sharp HealthCare when Sharp ended its Medi-Cal health plan, the San Diego Business Journal reports.
Journal of the American Medical Association Publishes Studies on Medical Residents, Students
The Sept. 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association includes two studies on medical residents and one study on medical students.
Mail-Order Pharmacies Owned by Pharmacy Benefit Managers Cost Effective, FTC Study Finds
Mail-order pharmacies owned by pharmacy benefit managers provide “generally” cost-effective prescription drug plans, according to a study released Tuesday by the Federal Trade Commission, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Senators Ask for Results of Investigation on FDA Delay of Plan B Decision
Thirteen senators have urged the Government Accountability Office to release findings from its ongoing investigation into FDA’s indefinite postponement of a decision regarding Barr Laboratories’ application for nonprescription sales of its emergency contraceptive Plan B to women ages 17 and older, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Efforts by Health Insurers To Prepare for Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Examined
Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined insurance companies’ efforts to prepare for the launch of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, which begins Jan. 1, 2006.