Latest California Healthline Stories
House Approves $1.5B in Supplemental Funds for Health Care Programs for Veterans
The House on Thursday voted 410-10 to approve a conference report for the fiscal year 2006 Interior-Environment appropriations bill (HR 2361), which includes $1.5 billion in supplemental funds for Department of Veterans Affairs health care programs, CQ Today reports.
PacifiCare Second-Quarter Income Up
Cypress-based PacifiCare on Thursday reported that net income for the second quarter increased by 20% to $92.6 million, or 96 cents per share, up from $76 million, or 80 cents per share, a year earlier, the Los Angeles Times reports.
House Approves Medical Malpractice Reform Bill; Opposition Expected in Senate
The House on Thursday voted 230-194 to approve a medical malpractice reform bill (HR 5), CQ Today reports.
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Bill To Help Prevent Methamphetamine Production
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved by voice vote a bill (S 103) that would limit sales of over-the-counter medications that contain pseudoephedrine, an ingredient used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, the AP/Washington Times reports.
Schwarzenegger Releases $9M To Address West Nile Virus
The administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday announced that it had released $9 million to 75 agencies statewide to address West Nile virus, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Johnson Introduces Bill To Link Medicare Physician Reimbursements With Quality of Care
House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) on Thursday introduced a bill that would repeal the existing formula for calculating Medicare’s physician payments and replace it with a system linking payments to quality, CongressDaily reports.
San Joaquin Valley Leaders Consider Prescription Drug Purchasing Pool
Consumer advocates and business leaders on Thursday announced plans for a prescription drug purchasing pool for San Joaquin Valley residents, which supporters say would save residents 20% to 40% on medications, the Fresno Bee reports.
Lockyer Alleges Violation of Tobacco Settlement
Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against UST, the maker of Skoal chewing tobacco, alleging that the company violated a 1998 settlement agreement by advertising its products at drag races where children were present, Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times reports.
Determination on King/Drew Medical Center Administration Transfer Could Take 12 Months, Report Says
A determination of the feasibility of an option under which Los Angeles County would transfer the administration of Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center to a private operator could take six to 12 months, according to a report compiled by Shattuck Hammond Partners, the Los Angeles Times reports.
House Approves Bill To Provide State Grants for High-Risk Insurance Pools
The House on Wednesday passed by voice vote a bill (HR 3204) that would reauthorize $15 million in grants for fiscal year 2005 to states that establish high-risk health insurance pools, CQ Today reports.