Latest California Healthline Stories
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Stephen Levy, director and senior economist at the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, discussed several issues related to California’s economy, including two health-related measures on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot.
Machado Campaign Alleges GOP Opponent Accepted Illegal Donations From Pharmaceutical Industry
Incumbent Sen. Mike Machado’s (D-Stockton) campaign has said that Republican challenger and Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto is operating a “shell game with election money” by accepting a donation from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America through a county GOP committee, the Modesto Bee reports.
Sacramento Clergy Will Hold Media Event To Highlight Opposition to Proposition 71
A group of Sacramento-area ministers plan to hold a press conference on Tuesday outside the University of California-Davis Medical Center to “denounce” Proposition 71, a bond measure on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot to fund human stem cell research, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Voter Guide Highlights Disagreement Between Congressional Candidates on Cancer-Related Issues
The American Cancer Society’s voter guide for the 20th congressional District race “highlighted an ongoing feud over cancer-related issues” between Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) and Democratic opponent Jim Costa, a former state senator, the Bakersfield Californian reports.
New York Times Examines Increased Number of Fast-Food Chains in Hospital Cafeterias
The New York Times on Tuesday examined fast food chains that serve as hospitals’ cafeterias — a fact that is “jarring” to some observers as “obesity and its consequences are increasingly taxing the health care system.” Some hospitals say fast food franchises are the best option — and in some cases the only option — for providing food services.
Increased Number of Canadian Pharmacies Target U.S. Hispanics With Advertisements
Canadian pharmacies, which sell lower-cost prescription drugs to U.S. residents and have online sales of $1 billion annually, have begun “setting their sights” on Hispanics and other minority populations in the United States, the Boston Globe reports.
Lawsuit Alleges That Los Angeles County Violates State Nurse Staffing Rules
Service Employees International Union Local 660 on Monday filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County alleging that the county, on average, has 26% less than the number of nurses necessary to comply with state nurse-staffing ratios, the Los Angeles Times reports.
WellPoint Health Networks Reports 28% Increase in Third-Quarter Earnings
Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks on Monday announced that “[s]welling membership” in several markets had contributed to a 28% increase in third-quarter profit, the Los Angeles Times reports.
President Bush Signs Corporate Tax Bill Without FDA Tobacco Regulation Provision
President Bush on Friday “with no fanfare” signed into law a corporate tax bill (HR 4520) that includes a $10.1 billion measure to buy out tobacco quotas but does not contain a measure to give FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products, the AP/Columbia State reports.
Four Newspapers Release Recommendations for Health Care-Related Measures on November Ballot
The Contra Costa Times, the Orange County Register, the Sacramento Bee and the San Diego Union-Tribune have published their recommendations on how state residents should vote on several initiatives, including five related to health, that will appear on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot.