Latest California Healthline Stories
Immigration Law Could Prompt 15,000 Canadian Nurses To Leave Jobs in United States
Thousands of Canadian nurses who work in U.S. health care institutions could leave their jobs on July 26 when the final provisions of an eight-year-old immigration law take effect, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
House Approves Agriculture Appropriations Bill With Prescription Drug Reimportation Provision
House members on Tuesday voted 389-31 to pass the fiscal year 2005 agriculture appropriations bill (HR 4766), which contains a provision that would prevent FDA from enforcing a ban on drug reimportation and could allow some U.S. residents to purchase prescription drugs from other countries, the AP/Detroit News reports.
Catholic Healthcare West, California Nurses Association Reach Tentative Contract Agreement
Not-for-profit hospital system Catholic Healthcare West and the California Nurses Association, which represents 4,000 registered nurses, on Tuesday reached a tentative agreement on a three-year labor contract for nurses working at 11 CHW hospitals in California, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports.
Catholic Healthcare West Sells Hospital to Kaiser Permanente
The boards of directors for Catholic Healthcare West and Kaiser Permanente have agreed to the sale of CHW’s St. Dominic’s Hospital in Manteca to Kaiser, the Stockton Record reports.
Senate Majority Leader Frist Offers Several Health Care Proposals in Speech
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) on Monday in a speech at the National Press Club offered several proposals to reform the U.S. health care system, CongressDaily reports.
Study Examines Effect of California Caps on Medical Malpractice Damages
California’s 1975 law capping noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000 has reduced jury awards by 30% on average, according to a study released Monday by the Rand Institute for Civil Justice, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Some Medical Journal Study Authors Not Reporting Industry Financial Ties, Study Finds
Some prominent medical journals are failing to disclose contributing authors’ financial conflicts of interest in violation of their own rules mandating such disclosures, according to a study released Monday by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, USA Today reports.
Final Payments Expected in Health Plan of the Redwoods Bankruptcy Case
Creditors of the bankrupt HMO Health Plan of the Redwoods expect U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Alan Jaroslovsky this week to approve the HMO’s sale of stock it holds in a real estate company, meaning that HPR will send final payments to creditors in the near future, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Washington Post Examines Gingrich Plan for Electronic Medical Records
The Washington Post on Tuesday looked at former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s (R-Ga.) efforts to expand the use of electronic medical records and reform what he calls the “stunningly stupid” aspects of the U.S. health care system.
Natividad Medical Center Emergency Department ‘Fast Track’ System Reducing Overcrowding
A new “fast-track” system at Natividad Medical Center’s emergency department is reducing overcrowding and offering faster service to ED patients with minor illnesses and injuries, the Monterey County Herald reports.