Latest California Healthline Stories
Quality of Care Varies Widely at Top-Ranked Hospitals, Health Affairs Studies Find
Medicare patients with chronic illnesses receive “significantly different” levels of treatment in hospitals ranked “best” by U.S. News and World Report, according a new study published Thursday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Bush, Kerry Health Care Proposals Lack Ambition, Not Realistic, Los Angeles Times Editorial States
During the debate Friday night, President Bush and Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) likely will address health care, but it is “likely the debate will quickly mire itself in digressions” rather than addressing the real issues, the Los Angeles Times states in an editorial.
Senators Urge Revision of Proposed Medicare Prescription Drug Formulary
Proposed guidelines for a prescription drug formulary under the new Medicare drug benefit could limit access to many medications that beneficiaries use, and it should be rewritten, Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and John Breaux (D-La.) wrote Sept. 30 in a letter to United States Pharmacopeial Convention officials, which are developing the guidelines, CQ HealthBeat News reports.
San Diego Union-Tribune Examines Measure To Fund Stem Cell Research
The San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday examined Proposition 71, a bond measure on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot to fund stem cell research.
Sacramento Bee Examines Ballot Measure To Fund Expansion of Mental Health Services
The Sacramento Bee on Thursday examined the debate over Proposition 63, a measure on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot that would finance an expansion of mental health services through a 1% increase in the state personal income tax for residents whose annual incomes exceed $1 million.
Legislation that would create more incentives for pharmaceutical companies to research and develop vaccines as an extension of the Project BioShield initiative will be a priority of the 109th Congress, members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Judiciary committees said Wednesday at a joint hearing, CQ Today reports.
Providers Prepare for Shortage of Flu Vaccine, Target Highest-Risk Individuals
Health care officials across the state Wednesday worked to develop a plan to ration flu vaccine doses in advance of an expected shortage, one day after Chiron announced it would not provide any inoculations to the United States this year, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Conference Committee Approves Bill Without FDA Tobacco Regulation
Members of a conference committee on Wednesday voted 28-11 to approve a corporate tax bill (HR 4520) without a provision in the Senate version of the legislation that would have allowed FDA to regulate the manufacture, promotion and sale of cigarettes, the New York Times reports.
San Francisco Site Provides STD Notification E-Cards
The San Francisco Department of Public Health STD Services on Wednesday launched a program to allow people who have been diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases to notify their sexual partners of their diagnoses using electronic cards, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Thompson Touts Benefits of Medicare Advantage Plans
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Wednesday said that based on applications for 2005, increased reimbursement rates for HMOs and other managed care companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans provided under the new Medicare law likely will lead to reduced costs and improved services for beneficiaries, the AP/Detroit Free Press reports.