Latest California Healthline Stories
House Republican Group Opposes Reduction in Federal Funds for Medicaid
Forty-three House Republicans on Wednesday sent a letter requesting that House Budget Committee Chair Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) avert Medicaid funding cuts during conference committee negotiations on the fiscal year 2006 budget, CQ Today reports.
Advocates, Lawmakers Call for Additional Funds for Indian Health Services
Legislators and advocates of American Indian health care reform on Wednesday urged a Senate panel to increase funding for health services for American Indians, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Stem Cell Research Agency Subcommittee Rejects Appeals by Los Angeles, San Jose
The site-selection subcommittee for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine voted 6-1 to deny appeals from Los Angeles and San Jose to reconsider their bids to host the CIRM headquarters, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Lockyer’s Approval of Grant to Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights Criticized
Some Republicans are criticizing Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) for approving a two-year, $200,000 grant to the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which has been critical of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) fund-raising activities and policies since he took office last year, the Sacramento Bee reports. FTCR’s Health Consensus Project, which holds town hall meetings around the state to discuss ways to expand health coverage, will use the grant.
Denham Withdraws Bill That Would Have Changed Current State Law on Prosecution for HIV Exposure
Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Modesto) on Tuesday withdrew a bill (SB 235) that would have changed a current state law allowing HIV-positive people to be prosecuted for knowingly exposing their sexual partners to the infection, the Modesto Bee reports.
Senate Committee Approves Measure To Expand Children’s Health Care Programs
The Senate Health Committee on Wednesday voted to approve a bill (SB 437) that would create a program, called the California Healthy Kids Insurance Program, intended to expand eligibility for existing state health care programs for children, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Two San Francisco Hospitals Considering Merger
St. Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco’s Mission District said it is considering a merger with California Pacific Medical Center, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval for Mentor Silicone Breast Implant Application
An FDA advisory committee on Wednesday, in a “surprising reversal,” voted 7-2 to recommend the approval of an application submitted by medical device company Mentor to allow the company to sell silicone breast implants to the general population but also called for several conditions to regulate use of the implants, the Wall Street Journal reports.
HHS Spokesperson Bill Pierce To Leave Department for Position With Public Relations Firm
HHS spokesperson Bill Pierce — a “high-energy, rapid-response defender of Bush administration policies … over the past four years” — plans to leave the department to serve as vice president of Washington, D.C.-based public relations firm APCO Worldwide, CQ HealthBeat reports.
Health Officials Team To Destroy Flu Strain Shipped Worldwide
Health officials on Tuesday began “scrambling” to prevent the possibility of an influenza outbreak after a strain of the 1957 H2N2 “Asian flu” was shipped to thousands of laboratories worldwide, the AP/Hartford Courant reports.