Latest California Healthline Stories
Kaiser Permanente Doubles Telemetry Capacity, Plans New Med-Surg Unit at Fresno Hospital
Kaiser Permanente’s Fresno hospital recently added 24 telemetry beds — doubling its telemetry capacity — as part of a $4 million remodel of its fourth floor, the Fresno Bee reports.
CDC To Say Flu Shots With Preservative Thimerosal Are Safe
CDC will state that there is “no proof of harm” from exposure to the vaccine preservative thimerosal, which is nearly 50% ethyl mercury, in a decision to be published later this month, the Los Angeles Times reports.
State Lawmakers Begin Recess Without Reaching Agreement on Workers’ Compensation Reform
As expected, lawmakers on Thursday left for the spring recess before reaching an agreement on workers’ compensation reform and were placed on 24 hours’ notice to return to Sacramento if ongoing negotiations produced a package of bills, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Lawmakers Dismissed for Recess Without Agreement on Workers’ Compensation Reform Bill
Leaders in the Legislature on Wednesday dismissed lawmakers for their spring recess, “ending any chance” for passage of a workers’ compensation reform bill before the Friday deadline established by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), the Sacramento Bee reports.
Badger Will Not Testify at House Hearing on Medicare Estimates
The Bush administration will not allow Doug Badger, President Bush’s health policy adviser, to testify at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Thursday regarding CMS chief actuary Richard Foster’s allegations that the Bush administration was aware of his analysis that the Medicare legislation would exceed its target spending goal and sought to withhold the estimates, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Regulators Argue Against New Federal Oversight System for Insurance
State insurance regulators and consumer advocates on Wednesday criticized a proposal by House Committee on Financial Services Chair Michael Oxley (R-Ohio) that would eliminate state regulation on insurance premiums and shift oversight of the industry to the federal government, the AP/Dallas Morning News reports.
Supporters of a ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to deny most public benefits to undocumented immigrants have 405,000 of the 598,105 signatures required by April 29 to put the measure on the November statewide ballot, the North County Times reports.
Tri-Valley Collaborative Will Focus on Gaps in Health Care System
Axis Community Health’s Partnerships Committee, which provides health counseling and education services for residents of Tri-Valley — which includes Livermore, Pleasanton and Danville — on Tuesday announced plans to create a “health care problem-solving group,” the Contra Costa Times reports.
HHS To Launch New Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card Web Site
The Bush administration on Thursday will officially launch a Web site that will allow Medicare beneficiaries to compare prescription drug discount cards endorsed by the program, CongressDaily reports.
FDA Warns Costa Mesa Red Cross Facility of Safety Violations in Handling Donated Human Tissue
FDA on Tuesday made public a warning letter sent to the American Red Cross’ Costa Mesa branch about violations of safety requirements for handling donated human tissue, the Orange County Register reports.