Latest California Healthline Stories
California Superior Court Judge Judy Holzer Hersher on Tuesday scheduled an Aug. 17 hearing to determine whether Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and two aides should be held in contempt of court after the state reissued emergency regulations to prevent lower nurse staffing ratios from taking effect, the AP/New York Times reports.
State Budget Provision Will Fund Rural Doctor Program
A $3 million allocation in the fiscal year 2005-2006 state budget approved July 11 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) will help inner-city and rural communities throughout the state recruit and retain physicians, Anmol Mahal, president-elect of the California Medical Association said Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
San Francisco Supervisors Approve Budget, Restore Cuts to Health Care Services, HIV/AIDS Programs
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved the largest budget in the city’s history, restoring some cuts to health care-related programs included in Mayor Gavin Newsom’s (D) original $5.3 billion spending and revenue plan, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bush Nominates Judge John Roberts to U.S. Supreme Court
President Bush on Tuesday nominated federal appeals court judge John Roberts to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court, USA Today reports.
Senate Subcommittee Approves $2 Billion for VA Health Programs
The Senate Military Construction-VA Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday approved nearly $2 billion in emergency spending for veterans’ health care programs for fiscal year 2006, CQ Today reports.
UC-Davis To Close ED, Cut Services in Preparation for Nurse Strike
University of California-Davis Medical Center officials said the hospital’s emergency department will be closed and services in other units will be reduced on Thursday during an expected one-day strike by members of the California Nurses Association at UC’s five teaching hospitals, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Department of Health Services Resumes Medical Marijuana ID Program
Department of Health Services officials on Monday reinstated a state medical marijuana identification card program, after receiving a letter from Attorney General Bill Lockyer’s (D) office indicating that operators of the program will not be at risk for federal prosecution, the Los Angeles Times reports.
DOJ Requests Supreme Court Review of Decision on Past Profits in Tobacco Lawsuit
The Department of Justice on Monday in a “forcefully worded” filing requested a Supreme Court review of a February ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that the federal government cannot seek disgorgement of $280 billion in past profits from several large U.S. tobacco companies under federal racketeering laws, the Washington Post reports.
Bush To Discuss Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit in Atlanta
President Bush plans to travel to Atlanta on Friday to hold a conversation with Medicare beneficiaries about the new prescription drug benefit, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Blue Shield of California Dedicates Unit to Public Sector Accounts
Following its lucrative contract over the last few years with CalPERS, Blue Shield of California in March created a business unit dedicated to “labor, trust and other large public-sector accounts” in its new Large Group Business Unit, the San Francisco Business Times reports.