Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicaid Costs Remain Problem Despite Increased State Revenue, Report Finds
State revenues “improved dramatically” in fiscal year 2005 — primarily from increased sales and income taxes — but Medicaid costs are expected to continue increasing by 9% to 10% annually, which could create the need for future cuts in other programs, according to a report from the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers released Thursday, the New York Times reports.
New York Times Examines Two Ballot Measures Related to Prescription Drug Costs
The New York Times on Friday examined competing proposals for prescription drug discount programs included on the ballot for a Nov. 8 special election in California, measures that could affect drug makers’ access to the state’s $4 billion annual Medicaid drug market.
Los Angeles County Jails To Charge Inmates for Some Nurse Visits
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials on Wednesday announced that the county jail system will begin charging prisoners $3 for each visit to a nurse that does not result in a referral to a physician, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Drug Industry Spent $800M Over Seven Years on Lobbying, Report States
The pharmaceutical industry spent $800 million on federal lobbying and campaign contributions over the last seven years, according to a report released Wednesday by the Center for Public Integrity, Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Drew University Names New Leadership
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science on Tuesday announced that it has named Thomas Yoshikawa, chair of internal medicine at Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center, as acting president, provost and chief operating officer of the university, which administers physician training programs at King/Drew, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Schwarzenegger Appoints Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services Agency
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) last week appointed Joseph Munso as deputy secretary for the Health and Human Services Agency.
Scientists Question CIRM Policy To Not Compensate Egg Donors
Scientists from around the country on Wednesday criticized a provision of Proposition 71 that prohibits women from receiving compensation from the state for donating eggs needed to generate human embryonic stem cells, the Sacramento Bee reports.
UnitedHealth Announces Plans To Acquire PacifiCare for $9.2B
Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group on Wednesday announced plans to purchase California-based PacifiCare Health Systems — the largest administrator of health plans for Medicare beneficiaries — for $9.2 billion in cash, stock and assumed debt, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Legislature To Vote on Budget Thursday
The Legislature on Thursday will vote on a more than $117 billion state budget for fiscal year 2005-2006, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is expected to sign the budget next week if it is approved, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted 4-2 to reject a proposed amendment (ACA 6) to the state constitution that would have prevented undocumented immigrants from receiving state-funded health care, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports.