Latest California Healthline Stories
San Francisco Mayor Agrees To Avert $1.5 M in Proposed Cuts to HIV/AIDS Programs
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) has agreed to restore up to $1.5 million in proposed cuts to AIDS- and HIV-related services for the city’s 2005-2006 budget, the mayor announced Sunday, the San Francisco Examiner reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Health Care for Female Inmates in State Prisons
The Los Angeles Times on Sunday examined “a national movement gathering steam in California … to reshape prisons to reflect differences between the sexes,” including approaches to health care.
Sacramento Superior Court To Hear Bee’s Arguments in Roche Contract Suit
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster has granted the Sacramento Bee permission to argue that Switzerland-based drug maker Roche should publicly disclose a new contract to supply hepatitis C medication to the state, the Bee reports.
FDA Restricts Access to Lung Cancer Medication Iressa
FDA on Friday restricted access to the lung cancer medication Iressa, manufactured by AstraZeneca, to current or previous users and clinical trial participants after the medication failed to improve survival rates in two trials, the New York Times reports.
Second Prescription Drug Discount Measure Qualifies for Special Election Ballot
A measure supported by labor and consumer health advocacy groups that would require pharmaceutical companies to provide discounts on prescription drugs to some state residents on Thursday qualified for the Nov. 8 special election ballot, the Sacramento Bee reports.
President Bush Launches Campaign To Promote Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
President Bush in a speech at HHS on Thursday launched a nationwide campaign to promote the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which begins Jan. 1, 2006, describing the benefit as “the greatest advance in health care for seniors since the founding of Medicare,” the New York Times reports.
California Hospital Association Supports Bill To Delay Compliance With Seismic Safety Rules
The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday examined the California Hospital Association’s support for a bill (SB 167) that would delay the deadline for compliance with state seismic safety rules for some hospitals.
American Medical Association Launches $60M Campaign To Improve Image, Increase Membership
The American Medical Association on Thursday announced that it will launch a $60 million marketing campaign designed to improve the group’s image and increase membership through “heartstring-tugging ads that portray doctors as ‘everyday heroes,'” the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
State Considers Plan To Replace Some HMO Surveys Conducted by Department of Managed Health Care
State officials are considering a plan to replace some surveys of HMOs operating in the state conducted by the Department of Managed Health Care with surveys by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a not-for-profit health care industry accreditation group, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Senior Action Network Appeals San Mateo County Contract Decision; County Announces 2006 Budget
The Senior Action Network has appealed San Mateo County’s decision to award a contract for a toll-free telephone service to provide Medicare information to Self Help For the Elderly, the San Francisco Examiner reports.