Latest California Healthline Stories
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Considers Regulation of Cannabis Clubs
The San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee on Monday met to discuss proposed regulations on marijuana dispensaries and whether the city should require club operators to publicize business documents, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Garamendi Addresses Workers’ Compensation Insurance Premiums, Questions Adequacy of Reductions
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) on Monday said that workers’ compensation insurers have not lowered premiums in accordance with his recommendations over the past 18 months and that he will investigate insurance companies’ claims handling and pricing policies, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Site Selection Subcommittee for Stem Cell Agency Agrees To Changes in Scoring System
The site-selection subcommittee for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine on Monday voted to make “only minor changes” to the scoring system used by the subcommittee to recommend a location for CIRM headquarters, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
State Agrees to Public Hearing, Comment Period on Emergency Medi-Cal Rules
Department of Health Services officials on Monday announced that they would allow public comment on emergency regulations issued in March that would give the state the authority to begin collecting a larger portion of assets left by elderly Medi-Cal beneficiaries after they die, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Current Estimates Might Overstate Number of Uninsured U.S. Residents, Studies Find
The number of U.S. residents without health insurance may be overstated by as much as nine million people, according to two new analyses of census data, the Los Angeles Times reports.
FDA Allows U.S. Sale of Today Sponge Contraceptive
FDA on Friday announced it has granted regulatory approval for the contraceptive Today Sponge, which was one of the best-selling nonprescription female contraceptives in the United States before it was taken off the market 10 years ago, the AP/Yahoo! News reports.
Sutter Health Reports 17% Decline in Operating Income for FY 2004
Sutter Health on Friday reported that operating income for fiscal year 2004 had decreased by 17% from $389 million on revenue of $5.7 billion in 2003 to $320 million on revenue of $6.3 billion, the Sacramento Bee reports.
New Medicare Policy Will Limit Beneficiaries’ Access to Appeals Hearings
A new federal policy scheduled to take effect in July will “make it significantly more difficult” for Medicare beneficiaries to appeal claim denials in person before an administrative law judge, the New York Times reports.
PhRMA Stops Gathering Signatures for ‘Paycheck Protection’ Ballot Initiative
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America on Friday said that it has suspended signature gathering toward its “paycheck protection” ballot initiative, a measure that would block state and local government agencies from processing the dues of public employee unions involved in political activities, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Alameda County Medical Center Moves To Replace John George Doctors With Contractors
Alameda County Medical Center — which operates the inpatient psychiatric hospital John George Psychiatric Pavilion — plans to eliminate 40 psychiatrist and five physician positions at John George on June 1, according to a March 28 letter sent to the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, the Oakland Tribune reports.