Latest California Healthline Stories
Federal Agents Search Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, Homes
Federal agents on Wednesday raided three medical marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco and searched about 20 residences, businesses and marijuana growing sites, making multiple arrests in the first federal action against dispensaries since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case Gonzales V. Raich earlier this month, the New York Times reports.
Bill Introduced To Require States To List Employers Whose Employees Receive Public Health Coverage
Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday introduced legislation known as the Health Care Accountability Act, which would require states to publicly disclose the names of companies with 50 or more employees who receive government-funded health coverage, the Washington Post reports.
Merck Considered Reformulation of Vioxx To Address Safety Risks Three Years Before Market Withdrawal
Three years before Merck voluntarily withdrew the COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx from the market because of concerns over cardiovascular risks, the company applied for a patent on a reformulation of Vioxx that sought to reduce cardiovascular side effects, according to internal company documents, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.
KQED’s ‘Health Dialogues’ Features Discussion of HIV/AIDS Transmission, Prevention
KQED’s “Health Dialogues” — a live, monthly call-in program sponsored by the California Endowment to examine health care issues in the state — on Thursday will begin airing on public radio stations statewide a discussion about the transmission of HIV.
AARP Report Supports Use of Imported Prescription Drugs
The use of imported prescription drugs in the European Union has reduced costs and has not compromised safety or disrupted supplies, according to an AARP report released on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
State Reaches Agreement With HHS To Increase Medi-Cal Managed Care Enrollment
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) administration on Wednesday announced an agreement with the federal government that would increase federal matching funds for Medi-Cal by as much as $3.3 billion over five years and enroll about 500,000 beneficiaries in managed care plans, the Los Angeles Times reports.
ICOC Chair To Address International Meeting in San Francisco
Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee Chair Robert Klein on Thursday will deliver the keynote address for the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s annual meeting in San Francisco, the San Francisco Examiner reports.
AMA Says Health Insurers Should Have To Update Network Provider Lists
State attorneys general should require that lists of in-network providers provided to members of managed care plans are accurate and up-to-date, American Medical Association delegates said at the organization’s annual meeting in Chicago on Wednesday, the Chicago Tribune reports.
CVS Ends Online Service To Track Products Over Security Concerns
Drugstore chain CVS halted an Internet service that allowed customers with flexible spending accounts to track their CVS purchases after the company was notified that a security flaw could permit others to access customers’ personal information, the Boston Globe reports.
California Cities Among Those With Lowest Health Insurance Premiums
Seven of the eight U.S. cities with the least-expensive health insurance premiums are in California, according to a study released Wednesday by eHealthInsurance Services, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.