Latest California Healthline Stories
Washington Post Examines Growing Use of Personal Health Records
The Washington Post on Tuesday examined the growing popularity of personal health records as U.S. residents seek ways to consolidate their health information.
Contra Costa Times Profiles Torlakson, Health Care Efforts
The Contra Costa Times on Sunday profiled Sen. Tom Torlakson (D-Concord), who during his legislative career has sponsored several bills encouraging nutrition and exercise, especially among children.
Pharmacists To Review Proposed Medicare Prescription Drug Formularies From Private Insurers
As many as 145 clinical pharmacists will be available to review formularies for private plans offering coverage under the new Medicare prescription drug benefit during a monthlong work period starting April 18, Babette Edgar, director of the operations division at the CMS Medicare Drug Benefit Group, said Monday, CQ HealthBeat reports.
KCET ‘Life & Times’ Special To Focus on Health Care in Southern California
KCET’s “Life & Times” on Tuesday will air a special with three segments examining health care issues in Southern California.
Court Challenges Could Delay Stem Cell Institute for Months
Constitutional challenges to the creation of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine could delay plans to issue the first research grants in May, Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) on Monday said in briefs filed with the state Supreme Court, the Sacramento Bee reports. The briefs mark the first time the state has “admitted … that the constitutional challenges could halt” the distribution of grants in May (Mecoy, Sacramento Bee, 3/15).
Avastin Can Increase Survival Times for Lung Cancer Patients
The cancer medication Avastin, manufactured by California-based biotechnology company Genentech, can provide a “modest but significant” increase in survival times for certain lung cancer patients, according to “unexpected” preliminary results from a large clinical trial released on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Los Angeles AIDS Director To Take Leave During Mayoral Campaign Fund-Raising Investigation
Los Angeles County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy Director Charles Henry has taken “administrative leave,” while county auditors and health officials investigate whether fund-raising activities he undertook for Antonio Villaraigosa’s mayoral campaign violated county policies, Los Angeles Times reports.
San Jose Town Hall Meeting Addresses Universal Health Care Proposals
Labor leaders, health care activists and advocates for low-income residents gathered Saturday at San Jose union hall in a “[p]art pep rally, part strategy session” to build support for a single-payer insurance plan, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Resale of Pacemakers Could Indicate Regulatory Lapses
The Sacramento Bee on Friday examined how the alleged theft of four pacemakers from a Sacramento hospital and the subsequent sale of two on an Internet auction site has “exposed a potentially fatal flaw in the nation’s system for tracking lifesaving medical devices.”
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday approved “sharp new limits” on power-plant emissions to reduce levels of smog and soot, which can aggravate heart and lung problems, the Wall Street Journal reports.