Latest California Healthline Stories
MedPAC Recommends Elimination of $10 Billion Fund for Regional Preferred Provider Organizations
The 17-member Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Thursday voted to adopt a draft recommendation that lawmakers eliminate a $10 billion fund for Medicare regional preferred provider organizations, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Contra Costa County Administrator Proposes Budget Cuts for County Health Department
Contra Costa County Administrator John Sweeten on Tuesday proposed asking county health and social services departments to reduce expenditures by $4 million to offset part of the county’s contribution to the cost of benefits for public safety workers and retirees, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Newsom Proposes Rules To Regulate Cannabis Clubs
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) on Thursday proposed regulations to address concerns about “the locations, proliferation and security” of cannabis dispensaries, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The number of adult state residents who smoke cigarettes has decreased by 33% since 1988 — the year voters approved a 25-cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund an anti-smoking campaign — according to a survey released Wednesday, the AP/Los Angeles Daily News reports.
One in Five U.S. Teenagers Has Abused Prescription Pain Medication, Study Finds
One in five U.S. teenagers has abused Vicodin, OxyContin or other prescription pain medications, according to a study released on Thursday by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the New York Post reports.
Legislation Imposes Oversight Laws on State Stem Cell Agency
The Senate Health Committee on Wednesday approved an amendment to the state constitution (SCA 13) that would modify provisions of Proposition 71, the Knight Ridder/San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Group of NIH Scientists Hires Law Firm To Challenge New Agency Conflict-of-Interest Rules
The Assembly of Scientists, a group of 15 elected NIH researchers who represent agency employees and oppose new agency conflict-of-interest rules, have hired a law and lobbying firm to launch a “legal and government relations campaign” to challenge the rules, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Drug Enforcement Administration Makes Arrests Related to Allegedly Illegal Online Pharmacy Ring
Drug Enforcement Administration officials on Wednesday said that they have arrested more than 20 individuals in the United States and abroad connected with a “rogue” Internet pharmacy ring that allegedly sold millions of doses of controlled substances, steroids and amphetamines without prescriptions, the Washington Post reports.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Wednesday voted 3-3 to reject an appeal to reconsider a decision under which the Department of Justice cannot seek $280 billion in past profits in a racketeering lawsuit against several large U.S. tobacco companies, the Boston Globe reports.
Orange County Officials To Discuss Issue of Uninsured Children
Orange County public health officials and policymakers on Thursday will meet to discuss the growing number of uninsured children in the county and strategies to expand health care coverage, the Los Angeles Times reports.