Latest California Healthline Stories
Supporters of Physician-Assisted Suicide Measure Say Schwarzenegger Could Consider the Bill
Supporters of a bill (AB 654) that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in some cases said a senior aide to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) last week indicated that the governor would consider the issue, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Target To Restrict Sales of Meth Ingredient Pseudoephedrine
Target, the nation’s second-largest discount retailer, on Monday announced that all medications containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine would be sold solely through the stores’ pharmacies because they can be used to manufacture methamphetamine, the AP/Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Legislative Committee To Review Measure Mandating Individual Health Care Coverage
A legislative committee this month will consider a bill (AB 1670) that would require California residents to maintain health care coverage, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Schwarzenegger Plans Conference To Address Obesity in California
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is planning a summit conference with researchers, business leaders and medical experts to establish a plan to address obesity among California residents, according to aides to the governor, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Role of Medicaid Letter in Budget Negotiations
The Los Angeles Times on Saturday examined how a letter signed by 44 Republican members of Congress urging House Budget Committee Chair Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) to avoid cuts in Medicaid funding could hamper conference committee negotiations on the fiscal year 2006 budget.
A $3.5 billion project to modernize the computer system used by Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals is “not viable” and poses an “unacceptably high risk,” according to a copy of a February report obtained by the St. Petersburg Times.
Bay Area Schools Partner To Expand Nursing Program at Samuel Merritt College
Beginning this fall, nursing students will be able to fulfill pre-nursing requirements at Holy Names University, Mills College and Saint Mary’s College before completing their nursing course work at Samuel Merritt College in Oakland, Samuel Merrit officials announced Wednesday, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Medicare Physician Reimbursement Reduction Reversal To Cost $10 Billion to $50 Billion, CBO Says
The cost of reversing a scheduled reduction in Medicare’s physician payment rate would cost between $10 billion and $50 billion over the next five years, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Editorials Address Schwarzenegger’s Nurse Education Proposal
Two newspapers recently published editorials addressing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) plan to provide $90 million in funding to expand state nursing programs.
Supporters of Some Proposed Ballot Measures Use Signatures To Further Negotiations
Supporters of proposed ballot measures, including several related to prescription drugs, “are using the initiative drives as sticks they can use to threaten their opponents,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.