Latest California Healthline Stories
House Democrats To Outline New Health Care Agenda With Focus on Expansion of Health Coverage
House Democrats on Wednesday plan to outline a new health care agenda that will seek to legalize the reimportation of prescription drugs from abroad, allow Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies for discounts on medications and extend health insurance to more U.S. residents, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Bill Would Give Doctors Discretion in Reporting Drivers Who Have Experienced Lapses of Consciousness
A bill (SB 212) by Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) would give doctors more discretion on whether to report to the Department of Motor Vehicles patients who experience lapses of consciousness, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Sen. John Kerry Continues To Promote Health Insurance Bill for Children
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Tuesday held a rally in St. Paul, Minn., to build support for legislation (SB 114) that would expand health insurance coverage for people less than 21 years of age, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Health Net, Prudential Agree to Settlements in Physician Lawsuit Against Health Insurers
Health Net and Prudential Insurance Company of America have agreed to pay a combined $80 million to settle claims in a racketeering lawsuit brought by more than 700,000 physicians against six of the largest U.S. health insurers, the AP/Orlando Sentinel reports.
Surgeon General Testifies in Department of Justice Racketeering Lawsuit Against Tobacco Companies
U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona on Tuesday testified in the Department of Justice racketeering lawsuit against several large U.S. tobacco companies that a general, nationwide anti-smoking program would do less to discourage the practice than smaller programs developed for specific regions and ethnic groups, the New York Times reports.
About 9% of Orange County Households Uninsured, Report Finds
About 9% of Orange County households do not have health insurance, compared to more than a quarter of households without health insurance coverage in more urban areas, such as Los Angeles County, according to a report released Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Union Files Lawsuit To Block New Requirements for Prison Doctors
The Union of American Physicians and Dentists on Friday filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Corrections from implementing new minimum qualification standards for doctors who treat inmates, the AP/Washington Post reports.
Former President Bill Clinton, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee Announce Childhood Obesity Campaign
Former President Bill Clinton and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) on Tuesday announced an initiative seeking to reverse the trend of childhood obesity within a decade, the New York Times reports.
Special Election Could Include Three Health Care-Related Measures
A special election in November could have as many as 10 “highly controversial” propositions on the ballot, including three health care-related measures, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Ambulatory Quality Alliance Announces 26 Standards To Help Measure, Improve Health Care Quality
The Ambulatory Quality Alliance, a coalition of physician, health plan and government groups, on Tuesday announced 26 quality measures that health plans, employers and physicians could begin using to measure and improve care quality, CQ HealthBeat reports.