Latest California Healthline Stories
MedPAC Recommends Extension of Moratorium on New Specialty Hospitals at Senate Hearing
Congress should extend to Jan. 1, 2007, a moratorium on the construction of new specialty hospitals, according to a recommendation by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
McDonald’s Launches New Campaign To Promote Nutrition, Fitness
McDonald’s on Tuesday introduced a campaign that seeks to “link its image with healthy eating,” the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Governor Proposes Changes to Requirement To Provide Some Mental Health Services to Students
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has proposed suspending a state requirement that counties provide mental health services to about 30,000 students, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Governor’s Comments Might Affect Efforts To Enact Legislation on Healthy Snacks in Schools
The Riverside Press-Enterprise on Tuesday examined reaction to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) announcement that he supports legislation that would curb junk food sales in schools.
Computerized physician order entry systems appear to increase risk for 22 forms of medication errors, despite the “conventional wisdom that computerized ordering systems significantly reduce medication errors,” according to a study published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Senate, House Budget Committees To Propose Budget Plans With Reduced Medicaid Funds
The Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday plans to propose a fiscal year 2006 budget plan that would reduce funds for Medicaid by as much as $14 billion over five years, the Washington Post reports.
Kaiser Permanente Reports Increased Income
Oakland-based HMO Kaiser Permanente on Monday reported that net income for fiscal year 2004 had increased by 59% to $1.61 billion from FY 2003, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Some patient advocates are concerned that Medicare beneficiaries “faced with complex choices of drug plans will do nothing and be permanently penalized” if they enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit after the May 16, 2006, deadline, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Bill Would Extend Protections Against Some Obesity Lawsuits to Food Companies
Assembly member Guy Houston (R-Livermore) has introduced a bill (AB 173) that would exempt food sellers and manufacturers from some personal injury lawsuits alleging that the companies’ products cause obesity, the Oakland Tribune reports.
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined the expected introduction of three new vaccines — to protect against bacterial meningitis, whooping cough and the human papilloma virus — aimed at teenagers and the challenges in reaching that population.