Latest California Healthline Stories
Groups File Suits To Stop Stem Cell Institute From Distributing Funds
Taxpayer organizations and groups opposed to stem cell research on Tuesday filed two legal challenges to immediately stop the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine — created by Proposition 71 — from distributing funds, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Supreme Court To Hear Bush Administration Appeal in Physician-Assisted Suicide Law Case
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to a request by the Bush administration to hear an appeal in a case related to the 1997 Death With Dignity Act, an Oregon law that allows physician-assisted suicide, the Washington Post reports.
Campaign Under Way To Expand Health Care Coverage for Children in Ventura County
Supporters of an effort to expand health care coverage to uninsured children in Ventura County through the Children’s Health Initiative are continuing efforts to raise funds for the project, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Unions, Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Prepare Opposition to Hoch Confirmation
Some union leaders and attorneys for injured workers are organizing “a mass turnout” to protest Division of Workers’ Compensation Director Andrea Hoch’s Senate confirmation, which the Rules Committee on Friday postponed in order to give interested parties “more time to file comments,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
The health care industry must agree to technical standards for electronic health records by this summer or the federal government likely will “put out a mandate,” National Health Information Technology Coordinator David Brailer said at an industry conference on Wednesday, the New York Times reports.
New York Times Examines Debate Over Medicare Coverage of Erectile Dysfunction Medications
The New York Times on Tuesday examined the ongoing debate over whether Medicare should cover erectile-dysfunction medications, such as Pfizer’s Viagra.
Governors To Discuss Proposed Medicaid Reforms at National Governors Association Meeting
Medicaid reform will be a “top agenda item” at the National Governors Association meeting scheduled from Feb. 26 to March 1, and governors might “go beyond overhauling [the program] to include new approaches” to covering low-income state residents, NGA Executive Director Ray Sheppach said Friday at an Alliance for Health Reform panel meeting, CQ HealthBeat reports.
FDA Advisory Committee Recommends COX-2 Inhibitors Remain on Market
An FDA advisory panel on Friday voted unanimously to advise the agency that all COX-2 inhibitors increase a person’s risk for cardiovascular problems, yet a “substantial majority” of panelists recommended that despite the risks, the medications should remain on the market and be accompanied by stronger warnings, the Washington Post reports.
Scientists Criticize Bush Administration Actions on Science
The “voice of science is being stifled” by the Bush administration, which includes few scientists in policy discussions and has proposed reductions in funds for research and education programs, according to speakers at a meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science on Sunday, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
President Bush Signs Class-Action Lawsuit Reform Legislation Into Law
President Bush on Friday signed a class-action lawsuit reform bill (S 5) into law, one day after the House voted 279-149 to approve the legislation, the Washington Times reports.