Latest California Healthline Stories
The New York Times on Friday examined how some state officials are concerned that the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which was intended to reduce states’ prescription drug costs, might actually cause states to lose money because the monthly payments states must make to the federal government could exceed any savings.
One-Third of San Mateo County Students Overweight, Report Finds
One-third of fifth, seventh and ninth graders in San Mateo County were considered overweight or obese in 2002 and 2003, according to the San Mateo County Children’s Report, released Wednesday, the Oakland Tribune reports.
A proposed ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to require minors to notify their parents at least 48 hours before having an abortion likely will be one of the first initiatives to qualify for the next statewide election, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Schwarzenegger Opponents Plan Campaigns To Put Initiatives on Special Election Ballot
The Los Angeles Times on Thursday examined how some opponents of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) proposed policy reforms are “preparing to underwrite a hugely expensive campaign in which they will try not only to defeat Schwarzenegger’s measures but also enact their competing ballot items,” including measures to address prescription drug costs.
Former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson Says Medicaid Program Requires Broad Reforms
Former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday said that the Medicaid program requires broad reforms and that his inability to address the issue during his four-year tenure at the department was his largest public policy regret, the Washington Times reports.
Attorney Groups, PhRMA Meet To Discuss Some Proposed Ballot Measures
Officials representing state trial lawyer associations on Thursday met with pharmaceutical industry representatives in San Francisco to discuss a measure — backed by drug makers — that would place a cap on attorneys’ contingency fees, as well as a ballot petition “targeting prescription drug prices” that could receive financial support from lawyer groups, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Stanislaus County Board Approves Funds To Address Increasing STD Cases
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the county Health Service Agency’s request for $800,000 to combat the “soaring” number of reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases, the Modesto Bee reports.
The owner of a hotel in San Francisco that participates in the city-funded Care Not Cash program and houses recovering drug addicts canceled on Tuesday his lease with a medical marijuana clinic that had planned to open on the ground floor of the hotel Friday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Presidential Panel Considers Proposals To Reform Federal Tax Subsidies for Health Insurance
The President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform on Wednesday considered proposals to make the U.S. tax system “fairer and simpler” in relation to health insurance and other areas, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied requests to hear two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 71, approved by voters in November 2004 to create the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the Sacramento Bee reports.