Latest California Healthline Stories
Court Rejects Justice Department Request for New Hearing on Oregon Assisted Suicide Law
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Monday declined to reconsider its decision to uphold an Oregon law allowing physicians to prescribe lethal medications to terminally ill patients, rejecting a Bush administration request to do so, the AP/Detroit Free Press reports.
VA Treatment of Diabetes Better Than Managed Care, Study Finds
People with diabetes who were treated in the Veterans Affairs system received better care than those with diabetes who received treatment through managed care plans, according to a study published Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Changes to Medi-Cal Could Save $4 Billion Over Five Years, California Performance Review States
Changes to Medi-Cal proposed in the California Performance Review could reduce program costs by $4 billion over the next five years, including $1.5 billion in costs now paid from the state general fund, according to CPR, the Vacaville Reporter reports.
About 7,000 Payments From New Family Leave Program Delayed
The state’s new Paid Family Leave Insurance Program is experiencing processing delays that have contributed to about 7,000 late claim payments since the program began July 1, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Newsweek Cover Story Examines Fat Cell Research and Obesity
The cover story of the Aug. 23 issue of Newsweek examines research on the biochemistry of fat cells, which may hold “clues” to both their “tenacity” and the diseases related to obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
FDA Using ‘Lighter Touch’ on Canadian Prescription Drug Imports, Crawford Says
FDA is using a “lighter touch” in its efforts to stop cities and states from purchasing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, Acting Commissioner Lester Crawford said recently in an interview with the Associated Press, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Los Angeles County DHS Diverts Ambulances From King/Drew Medical Center for 60 Hours
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services officials on Friday declared an “internal disaster” for the Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center emergency department and diverted ambulances from the hospital for more than 60 hours over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Lawsuit Seeks To Require Los Angeles County To Bill Immigrant Sponsors for Some Medical Services
A group of attorneys, researchers, law enforcement officers and legislators have filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County “in an effort to force health officials to seek reimbursement from the sponsors” of documented immigrants for certain publicly funded medical services, such as nonemergency care, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Health Insurers, Consumer Advocates Debate Proposition 64
Health insurers, consumer groups, plaintiff attorneys and other businesses are weighing in on Proposition 64, an initiative on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot that would restrict lawsuits under the state’s unfair competition law, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Lee Iacocca Launches Campaign To Seek Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
Former auto executive Lee Iacocca on Monday launched a campaign called Join Lee Now to finance clinical trials to find a cure for type 1 diabetes, the AP/Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports.