Latest California Healthline Stories
The “unprecedented stampede of proposed ballot measures” for a possible special election in November include measures “patterned after Democratic bills” the governor vetoed last year, such as a state discount prescription drug program, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Laguna Honda Hospital Changes Admissions Policy Giving Priority to Senior Residents
Laguna Honda Hospital, San Francisco’s long-term care facility, will revert to a former admissions policy that gives senior residents with long-term nursing needs priority over other San Francisco General Hospital patients, San Francisco Public Health Director Mitch Katz announced Thursday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Los Angeles Times Highlights Recent Health Care-Related Legislation
The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday examined recently introduced health-related legislation, including “ambitious” legislation introduced by Assembly members Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) and Keith Richman (R-Granada Hills) that “promises to spur debate” over how to provide health coverage to about six million uninsured California residents.
Los Angeles Times Examines Turnaround Efforts at Physician-Owned Midway Hospital Medical Center
The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined turnaround efforts at Los Angeles-based Midway Hospital Medical Center, which was purchased from Tenet Healthcare last year by Physicians of Midway, a group of doctors who have worked at the hospital.
Bush Promises To Sign Class-Action Lawsuit Reform Legislation After House Passes Bill
President Bush on Friday plans to sign a class-action lawsuit reform bill (S 5) after the House on Thursday voted 279-149 to approve the legislation, the Washington Post reports.
Petition Calls for Changes to Stem Cell Oversight Committee Operating Procedures
Public interest lawyer Charles Halpern and Phillip Lee, a former U.S. assistant secretary for HHS and a former chancellor for the University of California-San Francisco, on Wednesday filed a petition calling for more open meetings, salary caps for employees and stricter conflict-of-interest rules for paid executives of the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee overseeing California’s stem cell research program, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Schwarzenegger Says Plan To Eliminate Regulatory Boards Needs Further Review
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in a letter to the Little Hoover Commission on Thursday said that his proposal to eliminate 88 state regulatory boards and commissions — including some health-related bodies — requires further review before it should be sent to the Legislature, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Hiltzik Examines Payment for Oncology Drugs at UCLA Cancer Clinics
Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik on Thursday profiled the experience of John Glaspy, professor of medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles Medical Center and medical director of UCLA’s Bowyer Oncology Center, who attempted to reduce his university’s $13 million annual bill for chemotherapy drugs.
Senate Passes Legislation To Prohibit Genetic Discrimination Among Employers, Health Insurers
The Senate on Thursday voted 98-0 in favor of a bill (S 306) that would establish protections against genetic discrimination, CQ Today reports.
Schwarzenegger Addresses Medi-Cal Funding in Washington, D.C.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Thursday “stumped” in Washington, D.C., for more Medi-Cal funding, including a request for as much as $700 million a year to help the state pay hospitals that treat uninsured patients, the Sacramento Bee reports.