Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS To Revise Preliminary 2006 Medicare Handbook Following Criticism of Draft
In response to concerns expressed by insurers, lawmakers, insurance regulators and health policy experts, CMS said it will revise its preliminary draft of the 2006 Medicare handbook to change statements that are “inaccurate, misleading or unclear,” the New York Times reports.
Stem Cell Oversight Committee To Address State Constitutional Amendment, Other Issues
The Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee at a meeting on Monday is expected to issue a formal response to a proposed amendment (SCA 13) to the state constitution that would revise provisions of Proposition 71, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Wall Street Journal Examines Market for Diagnostic Tools Among Doctors
The Wall Street Journal on Monday examined how advocates of “diagnostic-decision support software” — technology that aims to help doctors analyze patients’ symptoms and make a diagnosis — believe the devices could catch on, despite the medical community’s reluctance to adopt the technology.
Bush Says He Will Veto Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill
President Bush on Friday vowed to veto a bill (HR 810) that would loosen restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research because the research results in the destruction of human embryos, the Washington Times reports.
Leavitt Establishes Medicaid Study Commission
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Friday formally established the Medicaid study commission, the New York Times reports.
California remains the only state that has refused federal funding for abstinence-only sex education programs, raising questions about how effective various approaches to sex education are at preventing teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Newsom Announces $100M in Additional Funding for Laguna Honda Hospital Project
An additional $100 million in tobacco settlement funds will be available to fund the construction of a skilled nursing facility to replace the current Laguna Honda Hospital building, Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) announced Thursday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Senate Subcommittee Rejects Funding Request for Construction of Inmate Mental Health Facilities
A California Senate budget subcommittee on Thursday rejected a $12 million request by the Department of Corrections to build three new mental health facilities for prison inmates, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports.
Former Mentor Employees Accuse Breast Implant Maker of Deceptive Practices
Two former employees of medical device company Mentor in sworn depositions in 2003 said the company for years made defective silicone breast implants that were prone to rupture and underreported patient complaints of ruptures, the New York Times reports.
Outbreaks of Hospital-Acquired Infections Increase at Hospitals in Los Angeles County
Hospitals in Los Angeles County in the last 16 months have reported as many as 49 outbreaks of hospital-acquired infections, but county public health officials have declined to release the names of the facilities involved, the Los Angeles Times reports.