Latest California Healthline Stories
General Accounting Office Report Finds Increase in Number of ‘Bogus’ Health Insurers
Health insurance “scams” in which “unauthorized or bogus entities” collect premiums from consumers but do not pay claims have increased in recent years, according to a General Accounting Office report sent to Congress on Tuesday, the New York Times reports.
Presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Tuesday “blazed to victories” in Democratic primaries and caucuses across the United States, winning nine of the 10 races, the New York Times reports.
Several members of the House Government Reform Committee on Tuesday “demanded” that the Bush administration provide information on its cost estimates for the Medicare law, CongressDaily reports.
Federal Researchers End Estrogen HRT Study One Year Early
NIH on Tuesday announced that it has ended the portion of the Women’s Health Initiative study on the health benefits of estrogen for menopausal women who have had hysterectomies after concluding that the hormone increased the risk of stroke and did not prevent heart attacks, the Washington Post reports.
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday “blasted back” at senators who threatened to delay the confirmation of FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan as CMS administrator, CongressDaily reports.
Senators Introduce Bill To Allow Importation of Prescription Drugs From 25 Industrialized Nations
Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) on Wednesday “quietly” introduced a bill (S 2137) that would allow the importation of lower-cost, FDA-approved prescription drugs from 25 industrialized nations, The Hill reports.
In a 6-1 ruling, the California Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a state law that requires employers to include contraceptive coverage in health plans that cover other prescription drugs does not discriminate against church-affiliated organizations, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Los Angeles County Receives Less Federal Funding This Year for HIV/AIDS Services
Los Angeles County this year will receive $3.3 million, or 8%, less in federal funding to provide services for low-income people with HIV and AIDS than it did last year, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services officials announced Monday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Bush Administration Announces New Campaign To Fight Prescription Drug Abuse
The Bush administration on Monday announced a comprehensive campaign to “crack down” on prescription drug abuse, the Washington Post reports.
Legislature Does Not Pass Workers’ Compensation Reform by March 1 Deadline
As expected, the Legislature did not pass legislation to reduce employers’ workers’ compensation costs by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) Monday deadline for approving such legislation, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.