Latest California Healthline Stories
Group To Sue Potato Chip Manufacturers To Require Acrylamide Warnings
The Environmental Law Foundation on Thursday filed notices that it planned to sue potato chip manufacturers to require them to include cancer warnings on product packaging, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Illinois Law Requires Hospitals, Surgery Centers To Report Cost, Outcomes Data
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on Tuesday signed into law a bill that will require hospitals and surgery centers to report to the state the cost of outpatient procedures and some outcomes data, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Senior DOJ Officials Sought Smaller Penalties in Lawsuit Against Tobacco Companies, Sources Say
Prior to the Department of Justice attorneys’ surprise court request of $10 billion in penalties against tobacco companies in DOJ’s civil racketeering suit, senior department officials had ordered the lawyers to reduce their requests to $6 billion, according to sources familiar with the issue, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Physicians Recommend Network of Specialized Hospitals To Treat Stroke Patients
A nationwide system of high-level hospitals that specialize in stroke care would reduce the rates of mortality and disability among patients who experience severe strokes, according to recommendations by several physicians that will appear in the journal Stroke, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Frist, Rodham Clinton Introduce Health Care Information Technology Legislation
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) on Thursday announced a bill that would help establish a national health information technology network to improve access to medical information, the AP/Raleigh News & Observer reports.
Los Angeles County Supervisors Support Splitting County Health Department
Four of the five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors support a plan to split the county Department of Health Services into a unit to address public health functions and a unit to administer the county hospital system, the Los Angeles Times reports.
CalPERS Approves 8.7% Increase in HMO Premiums
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System on Wednesday voted to approve an average increase of 8.7% in premiums for its HMO plans and an average 9.5% increase in premiums for its PPO plans, the smallest premium increases without major coverage changes since 1999, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ventura County Supervisors Approve Plans To Expand Health Insurance Coverage to Uninsured Children
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 on Tuesday to conduct a study of costs and other concerns related to the creation of a Children’s Health Initiative, the Ventura County Star reports.
Los Angeles County Approves Over-The-Counter Syringe Sales
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 3-2 to legalize sales of syringes without a prescription, in an effort to reduce the incidence of diseases spread through injection drug use, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Legislature Does Not Pass Democrats’ Budget Proposal
The required two-thirds of legislators on Wednesday did not vote in favor of Democrat’s fiscal year 2005-2006 state budget proposal that would have restored about $500 million in proposed cuts to health care and social services programs included in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) budget proposal, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.