Latest California Healthline Stories
Antioch Hospital Administrators Anticipate January Opening for Urgent Care Center
Administrators of Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch expect to begin accepting patients in January at a new urgent care center, pending license approval by the Department of Health Services, the Contra Costa Times reports.
HHS Announces Purchase of Extra Doses of Flu Vaccine From Abroad
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced on Tuesday that FDA has authorized the use of GlaxoSmithKline’s flu vaccine Fluarix under an investigational new drug application, and HHS will purchase 1.2 million doses of the vaccine.
U.K. Regulatory Agency Advises Limiting Use of Antidepressants in Adults
The British National Institute for Clinical Excellence on Monday recommended that antidepressants not be used as a first-line treatment for mild depression, citing concerns of possible side effects and withdrawal symptoms, the Washington Post reports.
CMS Announces Creation of Regions for Drug Benefit Offerings Under Medicare
In a major step toward implementing the new Medicare law, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Monday announced that CMS has established 26 separate regions of the nation in which Medicare Advantage Preferred Provider Organizations will be offered and 34 separate regions in which the private drug coverage, or Prescription Drug Plans, will be offered, the New York Times reports.
University of California Hospitals, DHS Reach Agreement on Release of Data to Cancer Registry
The California Cancer Registry will have “full access to the files and records” needed to obtain information on newly diagnosed cancer patients to help recruit study participants, under an agreement between the University of California and the Department of Health Services, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Gingrich Named as Possible Replacement at HHS for Thompson
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, who announced his resignation on Friday, raised the possibility that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) could replace him, although “Washington watchers assumed his vacancy would be filled quickly by heir apparent” CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, CongressDaily reports.
Fewer than 3% of health care providers in San Bernardino County responded to a recent survey about black people’s health, according to the survey coordinator, the San Bernardino County Sun reports.
Ortiz Introduces Legislation Addressing Measure To Fund Stem Cell Research
As expected, Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) on Monday introduced a bill (SB 18) that would modify provisions of Proposition 71, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
FDA Issues New Rule to Help Federal Officials Track Food Supply
FDA on Monday issued a new food safety regulation that will establish new requirements for food companies “to help disease detectives track the source and destination of food,” as federal officials “sought to reassure” the nation that the U.S. food supply is safe from a bioterrorism attack, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Leaders Cite Health Care as Priority as Legislative Session Begins
California lawmakers on Monday began the new legislative session, with Democratic leaders promoting bipartisanship while members introduced “a bevy of progressive bills sure to cause political divisiveness,” including several health care measures, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.