Latest California Healthline Stories
Los Angeles County on Wednesday suspended its contract with Orthopedic Sciences — a surgical instrument company owned by one of Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center’s orthopedic surgeons — because the contract could violate the county’s conflict of interest laws, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Assembly, Senate Committee Act on Health-Related Legislation
The Legislature this week voted on several health-related measures.
The Assembly on Wednesday voted 43-19 to approve a bill (SB 1144) that would encourage the state prison system and other state agencies to purchase lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, the Contra Costa Times reports.
HHS Releases Draft Proposal for U.S. Preparedness for Influenza Pandemic
HHS on Wednesday released the “long-awaited” first draft of a proposal for U.S. preparation for and response to an influenza pandemic, the Washington Post reports.
Small Businesses Affected Most by Increased Health Insurance Premiums
The New York Times on Thursday examined how some small business owners “have had to come up with innovative strategies to cope with double-digit increases in their health insurance premiums.”
Doctors Medical Center San Pablo Will Not Layoff Workers, Close Chemical Dependency Program
Doctors Medical Center San Pablo does not plan to lay off any of its union workers or close its chemical dependency program to rein in costs, CEO Irwin Hansen said Tuesday, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Antelope Valley Hospital Suspends Emergency Orthopedic Services
The board of directors of Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster on Monday voted to suspend emergency orthopedic services at the facility because of a shortage of orthopedic surgeons willing to be on call for the emergency department, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
NIH Launches New Obesity Research Strategy, Releases Report
NIH on Tuesday announced that it is launching a research strategy to combat obesity, Reuters/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Senate Passes Prison Smoking Ban, Measure To Prohibit Smoking in Vehicles With Children
The Senate on Tuesday voted 23-6 to approve a bill (AB 384) that would prohibit state prison inmates and employees from using tobacco products in the facilities to help reduce state health care costs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Health Systems Begin To Limit Drug Company Representatives’ Access to Doctors
USA Today on Wednesday examined “a small but growing number of health care systems that are turning their clinics into commercial-free zones” by eliminating or reducing the number of “clocks, calendars and other freebies dished out by drug companies.”