Latest California Healthline Stories
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal by Supervisor Nate Miley for the county to open a medical marijuana dispensary at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro as an alternative to private or not-for-profit cannabis clubs, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Some Senators Say Institute of Medicine Should Have Role in Commission To Study Medicaid
A bipartisan group of senators is urging HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt to allow the Institute of Medicine to lead the Medicaid study commission, CongressDaily reports.
Abortion Ballot Measure, Other ‘Wild Card’ Initiatives Could Effect Possible Special Election
Several “wild card” initiatives, including a proposed measure that would require health care providers to notify the parents of a minor before performing an abortion, could appear on the next statewide ballot, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Pharmaceutical Firms Increase Publicity for Donation Programs
The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined how drug manufacturers — under mounting pressure to lower medication prices — are “increasingly touting their donations of medicine” for low-income and sick people.
Judge Rules Against San Diego County in Indigent Care Case
San Diego Superior Court Judge Ronald Styn on Friday ruled that the county must consider a San Ysidro man’s ability to pay for some health care services in evaluating his application for coverage in the County Medical Services health plan, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Company To Launch No-Cost Electronic Health Records System
Medem, founded in 1999 by the American Medical Association and six other medical societies, on Monday will unveil a no-cost, Internet-based “personal health record” called iHealthRecord that people can use to log and organize their personal medical information, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Handbook for Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Inaccurate, Advocacy Groups Say
Some health plans and advocates for Medicare beneficiaries have said that the draft handbook for the new Medicare drug benefit is “sprinkled with omissions, inaccuracies and material that could make an already complicated endeavor even more confusing,” the Washington Post reports.
Los Angeles Times Publishes Special Section on Women’s Health
The Los Angeles Times on Monday published a special section of articles on women’s health.
San Diego County Budget Proposal Includes 4% Increase for Health Services
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency budget will increase by 4% in fiscal year 2006 to $1.82 billion, accounting for nearly half of the county’s $4.14 billion budget, according to a proposal released on Thursday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
FDA Releases Details for Proposed Drug Watch Web Site
FDA officials on Friday issued guidelines for its Drug Watch Web site — expected to be launched later this year — that will contain safety information on drugs currently under review, Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal reports.