Latest California Healthline Stories
California Healthline Rounds Up Recent Medical Marijuana News
The San Diego Union-Tribune on Sunday examined the “huge disparity in the enforcement of Proposition 215,” the 1996 ballot initiative that allows state physicians to recommend marijuana to some patients for medical use.
Health System Donation Funds Expansion of Nurse Training Program at Fresno City College
Health system Community Medical Centers has agreed to commit $500,000 over five years to Fresno City College to pay for an additional nursing instructor and help train additional nurses for the San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno Bee reports.
Scientific Group Calls on State To Track Diseases, Possible Environmental Links
A group of scientists on Monday released a report calling for the creation of a statewide surveillance system to track diseases and their possible environmental links, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Sacramento Coalition Launches Campaign To Enroll 2,000 Children in Healthy Families by June 30
A coalition of Sacramento politicians, religious leaders and physicians on Monday announced a campaign to enroll 2,000 children in Healthy Families by June 30, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Ralph Nader Announces Independent Candidacy for President
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader on Sunday announced on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he is entering the 2004 presidential race and will run as an independent, highlighting issues such as universal health care that he said Republicans and Democrats are “ignoring,” the AP/Arizona Daily Star reports.
Bush Nominates FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan as CMS Administrator
As expected, President Bush on Friday nominated FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan to serve as the new CMS administrator, the Washington Post reports.
Individuals Who Take Antidepressants Less Likely To Obtain Individual Health Insurance Policies
People seeking individual health insurance policies are “vulnerable to rejection or higher rates” if they are taking antidepressants, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Senate Cloture Vote on Malpractice Legislation Expected To Fail
A Senate cloture vote on Tuesday to limit debate on a bill (S 2061) that would cap noneconomic damages at $250,000 in lawsuits against obstetricians/gynecologists is expected to fall short of the necessary 60 votes, CongressDaily reports.
Newborns Enrolled in Gateway Program Dropped From Medi-Cal
Newborns whose mothers are Medi-Cal beneficiaries are entitled to one year of continuous health coverage, but many of those children are being dropped from Medi-Cal within two months or less because their providers mistakenly enrolled them in a program called “Gateway,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
State Pharmacies File Lawsuit Alleging Anticompetitive Practices by Medco, Merck
Two California pharmacies have filed a lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court against pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions and drug maker Merck — its former parent company — alleging anticompetitive practices, including price fixing, Medco officials announced Friday, Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times reports.