Latest California Healthline Stories
Schwarzenegger Administration Details Plans for Drug Discount Card Program
The administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee provided more details about a drug discount program state officials proposed last month “as an alternative” to bills addressing the importation of lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Garamendi Motion To Dismiss Anthem Lawsuit Will Be Heard as Part of Trial
A California judge has approved a request by Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) to combine a hearing on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Indianapolis-based Anthem with the trial of the case, the Indianapolis Star reports.
HHS To Mail Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Cards to Low-Income Beneficiaries
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Wednesday is expected to announce a new plan under which federal officials will mail Medicare prescription drug discount cards to nearly two million low-income beneficiaries who already receive some government assistance with Medicare expenses, AP/Yahoo! News reports.
Pfizer Official Plans To Join Lawmakers To Speak in Favor of Prescription Drug Reimportation
Dr. Peter Rost, vice president in marketing for Pfizer’s growth hormone Genotropin, on Thursday will appear at a news conference with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to show support for efforts to facilitate the importation of lower-cost, U.S.-made prescription drugs, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Revisions to Texas Medical Malpractice Laws Supported by President Bush
In light of President Bush’s campaign promise this year to make tort reform a component of his second-term agenda, the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday looked at changes in malpractice laws in Texas since Bush took office as governor there in 1995.
USA Today Examines Potential Funding Problems for Health Care, Other Programs
Legislators are “struggling to limit spending” on health care and other programs to help provide funding for homeland security programs, the war in Iraq and anti-terrorism initiatives, USA Today reports.
Emergency Departments Losses Increase in 2002, CMA Report Finds
Hospitals in the state lost $460 million from emergency department care in fiscal year 2002, according to a California Medical Association report issued Tuesday, the Fresno Bee reports.
Opening Arguments Begin in $289 Billion Department of Justice Lawsuit Against Tobacco Companies
Attorneys for Department of Justice on Tuesday began opening arguments in a lawsuit filed over allegations that several of the largest U.S. tobacco companies violated a federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, the Washington Post reports.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 3-1 to begin a process that could lead to the closure of the trauma unit at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, one of only 13 such units in the county, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Some Santa Cruz, Santa Clara County Officials Oppose Proposal To Restrict Trauma Services
Santa Cruz County officials said they oppose a proposal that would place restrictions on hospital trauma centers in Santa Clara County for people who live outside the county, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.