Latest California Healthline Stories
NIH Official To Accept Position After Agency Director Elias Zerhouni Promises To Revise Ethics Rules
David Schwartz, a Duke University physician who delayed his decision to accept a position at NIH because of new conflict-of-interest rules, announced Tuesday that he will begin working at the agency on Monday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Pfizer Chair and CEO Hank McKinnell Supports FDA Review of Prescription Drug Advertisements
Pfizer Chair and CEO Hank McKinnell on Tuesday said the company supports a proposal in Congress that would require pharmaceutical companies to submit all advertising to FDA for advance review, the Boston Globe reports.
Senators Introduce Bill To Provide $100M in Grants for Medicaid, SCHIP Outreach Programs
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) on Tuesday introduced a bill (S 1049) that would provide $100 million in HHS grants over two years to states, local communities, schools, faith-based organizations and others to help enroll eligible children in Medicaid or SCHIP, CQ HealthBeat reports.
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge on Monday declined to expedite a decision on whether to grant a request by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America to block county election officials from counting and validating signatures for a proposed ballot measure to address prescription drug costs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Children’s Hospital Oakland earlier this month notified families of some children that they might have to pay cash or find alternative care beginning June 1 if the hospital does not reach an agreement with insurers over reimbursement rates, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Number of Clinical Trials Conducted Abroad Increasing
The pharmaceutical industry is conducting more clinical trials outside of the United States in part to lower costs, expedite approval and test drugs in countries where they will be sold, USA Today reports.
The California Nurses Association on Friday gained its first group of members outside the state, defeating the Illinois Nurses Association in a vote to represent nurses at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Assembly Appropriations Committee Scheduled To Consider Physician-Assisted Suicide Legislation
The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday is scheduled to consider a bill (AB 654) that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in some cases, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Measure Requiring Parental Notification Before Abortions for Minors Qualifies for Ballot
A measure that would require health care providers to notify the parents of a minor before performing an abortion has qualified for the next state election ballot, the secretary of state’s office announced Monday, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Bill Introduced To Provide Tax Credits To Help Purchase Health Insurance
Sens. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) have introduced a bill (S 978) that would provide refundable tax credits to help individuals and small businesses purchase traditional health insurance or coverage through high-deductible health plans with health savings accounts, CQ HealthBeat reports.