Latest California Healthline Stories
COX-2 inhibitors are “at risk of being removed from the market” because of their link to increased risk for cardiovascular and other events, according to a “sweeping series of studies” on the medications released on Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine, Long Island Newsday reports.
As expected, medical marijuana advocates on Tuesday filed a lawsuit seeking a court order to stop the California Highway Patrol from confiscating marijuana from patients who have a physician’s recommendation, the Sacramento Bee reports.
King/Drew Medical Center Passes Inspection, Remains Eligible for Federal Funding
Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center will remain eligible for federal funding after passing an unannounced re-inspection of the facility’s psychiatric and telemetry units, the Los Angeles Times reports.
HHS Announces Creation of Board To Monitor Drug Safety Information at FDA
In response to concerns that FDA has mishandled information about some drugs’ potential safety risks, HHS officials on Tuesday announced the creation of the FDA Drug Safety Oversight Board, which will be charged with monitoring and reporting information about potentially dangerous drug reactions, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Health Net, Tenet California Reach Agreement in Claims Dispute
Health Net will pay $28.5 million to Tenet California to settle payment disputes dating from before Nov. 1, 2004, when a new contract took effect, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Sen. Edward Kennedy Introduces Bill To Limit Mandatory Overtime for Nurses
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) last week introduced legislation that would penalize hospitals for requiring nurses to work mandatory overtime after completing scheduled shifts, the Boston Globe reports.
Feckner Expected To Be Elected CalPERS Board President
CalPERS trustees are expected to elect on Wednesday Rob Feckner as board president, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Group Plans Lawsuit Asking State To Stop Confiscation of Marijuana for Medical Purposes
Americans for Safe Access, a patient support group, plans to announce in Oakland on Tuesday a lawsuit against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) and the California Highway Patrol asking that California cease confiscation of medical marijuana from patients, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Increased Number of Children From Middle-Class Families Enroll in Public Health Insurance Programs
An increasing number of middle-class families are declining employer-sponsored health coverage for their children and enrolling them in public health insurance programs, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Number of COX-2 Inhibitor Prescriptions Decreased by 43% in 2004, IMS Health Study Finds
The number of COX-2 inhibitor prescriptions decreased by 43% between December 2003 and December 2004, according to a study released on Monday by the pharmaceutical information and consulting company IMS Health, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.