Latest California Healthline Stories
Stockton Hospital Program Addresses Employee Health Risks
Dameron Hospital in Stockton has established the Workforce Health Initiative, a program for area employers to identify and work to eliminate employee health risks, the Stockton Record reports.
KCET’s ‘Life and Times’ Examines Potential Impact of Health Coverage Law on Employers, Employees
KCET’s “Life & Times” on Monday examined the potential impact on California workers and employers of SB 2, a law signed in October by former Gov. Gray Davis (D) that will require some companies to provide health insurance to workers or pay into a state fund that would provide such coverage.
Los Angeles Times Examines Emergence of Rehabilitation Facilities in Malibu
The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday looked at the “proliferation” of rehabilitation clinics in Malibu and efforts by the Residential Integrity and Peace committee of local residents to change a 1979 state law that prohibits cities from enacting zoning restrictions that discriminate against facilities with six or fewer beds.
Senators Threaten To Delay McClellan’s Nomination Because of Reimportation Issues
At a summit meeting of governors and members of Congress on Tuesday, some senators “threatened” to stall the confirmation of FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan as CMS administrator because of his “refusal … to permit importation of lower-cost medicines from Canada,” the Washington Post reports.
Federal Report Criticizes Quality of Care for Adult Patients at Metropolitan State Hospital
Adult patients with mental illnesses at Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk “were often misdiagnosed, over-medicated and improperly restrained for weeks at a time,” according to a newly released U.S. Department of Justice investigation, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Senate Democrats Oppose Competition Pilot Program in Medicare Law
Senate Democrats on Wednesday plan to begin to introduce a “flurry of bills” to exempt their states from a pilot program to test competition between private health plans and traditional, fee-for-service Medicare, Roll Call reports.
Cedars-Sinai Will Not Restart Computer Physician Order Entry System Before 2006, Official Says
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles will not restart its computerized physician order entry system before 2006, after suspending use of the system in January 2003 following physician complaints, a hospital official said, Modern Healthcare reports.
Officials From Los Angeles, Orange Counties To Request Help With State Mandates for Hospitals
Officials from Los Angeles and Orange counties plan to send a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to request help in efforts to meet state seismic retrofit requirements and nurse-to-patient ratio rules for hospitals, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Governors, Lawmakers Hold Meeting on Reimporting Prescription Drugs From Canada
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) on Tuesday held a meeting in Washington, D.C., with other governors and lawmakers to discuss the reimportation of lower-cost, U.S.-manufactured prescription drugs from Canada, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Kerry Wins Democratic Presidential Contests in Utah, Idaho and Hawaii
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Tuesday won the Democratic presidential primary in Utah and caucuses in Idaho and Hawaii, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.