Latest California Healthline Stories
Enrollment Slow in New Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card Program
Enrollment in the new Medicare prescription drug discount card program appears to be slow so far, as many beneficiaries seem unwilling “to commit just yet,” Long Island Newsday reports.
Assembly Approves Bill To Create Prescription Drug Reimportation Web Site
The Assembly on Wednesday voted 48-17 to approve a bill (AB 1957) that would create a state Web site to help residents purchase lower-cost, U.S.-made prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports.
Files Class-Action Lawsuit Against Abbott Over 400% Price Increase for HIV/AIDS Medication Norvir
Aetna, the nation’s third-largest health insurer, on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against Abbott Laboratories, claiming that the drug company’s recent 400% price increase for its antiretroviral drug Norvir violates federal antitrust laws, the Chicago Tribune reports.
The Los Angeles Times on Thursday examined the “clash” over a bill (SB 1336) that would allow oral and maxillofacial surgeons to perform common elective surgeries that are generally performed by plastic surgeons.
Common Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Test Does Not Detect Some Tumors, Study Finds
About 15% of elderly men who received normal scores on the prostate-specific antigen test — a common diagnostic test for prostate cancer — had malignant tumors, according to a study in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday sent a letter to the Department of Developmental Services regional centers program, giving 60 days’ notice that the county will not renew its contract to provide services to people with developmental disabilities and their families, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Nursing Students Will Not Receive Federal Financial Aid
Fifty-two students enrolled in an accelerated four-semester program to earn nursing credentials at San Francisco State University on Thursday were told that they are now ineligible to receive federal loans for the classes, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
President Bush Promotes Community Health Centers Plan at Ohio Event
President Bush on Tuesday highlighted his efforts to promote community health centers as part of a “Conversation on Health Care and Health Centers” at Youngstown State University in Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
NIH Holds Hearing on Request for Generic Version of Abbott HIV/AIDS Drug
AIDS advocates, pharmaceutical company representatives and others on Tuesday at an NIH hearing offered “sharply different views” on Essential Inventions’ request to produce a generic version of Abbott Laboratories’ antiretroviral drug Norvir, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Washington Post Examines Employer Actions To Address Rising Health Care Costs
The Washington Post on Wednesday examined how employers are handling “escalating health insurance costs and a frightening scarcity of remedies.”