Latest California Healthline Stories
The Area 4 Agency on Aging in Sacramento has terminated a contract with the Legal Center for the Elderly and Disabled to oversee Medicare counseling services, the Sacramento Bee reports.
NIH Official Reverses Decision To Leave Agency Over New Conflict-of-Interest Rules
James Battey, director of the NIH’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, on Thursday announced that he will retain his position following discussions with agency officials about new conflict-of-interest rules, the Washington Post reports.
House Panel Considers Protections for Foster Children in Clinical Trials
HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Young testifying on Wednesday before the House Ways and Means human resources subcommittee said current federal regulations are sufficient to ensure foster children enrolled in federally funded clinical trials are properly protected, but some lawmakers said a congressional investigation into the guidelines is needed, the AP/Miami Herald reports.
Backers of Proposition 54 Settle Suit Over Campaign Finance Rules, Disclose Largest Contributors
The American Civil Rights Coalition on Wednesday agreed to pay $95,000 to settle a lawsuit in which the state’s campaign finance regulator alleged the group violated campaign finance laws by failing to disclose donations to support Proposition 54 prior to the October 2003 recall election, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Temporary Bans on New Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Extended, Enacted
San Francisco, San Pablo and Sonoma County officials this week extended or enacted moratoria on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Some Lawmakers Say Brand-Name Pharmaceutical Companies Are ‘Gaming’ Patent System
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee at a hearing on Wednesday said that brand-name pharmaceutical companies are “gaming” the patent system to block market entry of lower-cost generic medications and raised the possibility of legislation to address the issue, CQ HealthBeat reports.
More U.S. Residents With Chronic Conditions Cannot Afford Prescription Drugs
A greater percentage of U.S. residents with chronic medical conditions were unable to afford all of the prescription drugs they needed in 2003 compared with 2001 data, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Senate Committee Approves Amendment To Revise Proposition 71
The Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee on Wednesday voted 5-0 to pass an amendment (SCA 13) that would revise provisions of Proposition 71, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Santa Clara County Grand Jury Report Raises Concerns About Inmate Health Care Costs
Santa Clara County should perform “a quantitative, business justification for the county adult inmate health care budget,” according to a civil grand jury report filed on Monday, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Effects of Delayed Vote on Crawford Nomination as FDA Commissioner Examined
The Hill on Thursday examined how objections to the nomination of acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford as agency commissioner are “contributing to a growing atmosphere of uncertainty about the agency and the drug industry it regulates.”