Latest California Healthline Stories
Schwarzenegger Signs Bill To Allow Local Governments To Create New Syringe Collection Programs
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Friday signed a bill (SB 1362) that will allow local governments to incorporate in their hazardous waste collection initiatives to dispose of syringes used by people with diabetes or other chronic illnesses outside of medical settings, the San Mateo County Times reports.
Antioch City Council Approves New Residential Care Facility
The Antioch City Council last week unanimously voted to approve the construction of a residential care facility for seniors who need help with daily activities but do not need 24-hour medical supervision, the Contra Costa Times reports.
House Panel Approves Increase in Health Care Funds for VA Health System
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday gave initial approval to a $128 billion domestic spending bill that would “shift billions of dollars from space, science and environmental programs to shore up funding for veterans’ medical care, a major political issue this election year,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Nonpartisan Coalition Releases Report Calling for Universal Health System
The National Coalition on Health Care, a nonpartisan alliance of employers, unions, insurers, consumers, political leaders and health care providers, on Tuesday issued a report calling for “a sweeping overhaul” of the U.S. health care system, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Sen. Judd Gregg Delays Markup Session for Prescription Drug Reimportation Legislation
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) on Monday delayed a markup session scheduled for Wednesday for a bill (S 2493) he has proposed that would allow the reimportation of prescription drugs because of a conflict with a White House bill signing ceremony for the Project BioShield Act (S 15), CongressDaily reports.
Senate Committee To Vote on Higher Salaries for Department of Veterans Affairs Physicians
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Tuesday plans to vote on a bill that would revise the pay system used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow the department to offer higher salaries to some physicians and dentists, the Washington Post reports.
Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card Enrollment Has Improved, CMS Administrator Says
During an appearance before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, CMS Administrator Mark McClellan on Monday presented “an upbeat picture” of the progress in enrolling beneficiaries in the new Medicare drug discount card program, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Kern Medical Center Breaks Even for Fiscal Year
Officials for Kern Medical Center announced that the hospital broke even for the fiscal year ending June 30 and that they expect the hospital to post similar financial results in the current fiscal year, the Bakersfield Californian reports.
Four potential medical school applicants with learning disabilities and two advocacy groups on Monday filed a class-action suit in Alameda County Superior Court alleging that the students were denied extra time to complete the medical school entrance exam in violation of state disability laws, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Vice President Dick Cheney Calls for Cap on Noneconomic Damages in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Speaking before 300 people at the Medical College of Ohio, Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday said the federal government must take action to fix the “broken” medical liability litigation system by enacting a “reasonable federal cap” of $250,000 on noneconomic damages awarded in medical malpractices cases and eliminating “junk lawsuits,” the Toledo Blade reports.