Latest California Healthline Stories
Department of Health Services Blocks Purchase of Menlo Park Nursing Home
In an “unusual move,” the Department of Health Services on Thursday blocked the purchase of a Menlo Park nursing home, citing 23 previous violations at other nursing homes owned by the prospective buyers, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
In a “toughly worded response” to hospitals, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday said that federal regulations do not prevent hospitals from offering discounts to uninsured patients, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Boxer Urges Department of Veterans Affairs To Maintain Services at Livermore Hospital
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) on Thursday sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi in support of a recommendation to keep the Livermore VA hospital open, but she also urged the VA to maintain outpatient and short-term care services at the facility, the Contra Costa Times reports.
FDA Committee Votes To Include Fujian Strain in Influenza Vaccine Next Season
An FDA committee on Thursday voted to include the A/Fujian flu strain, which caused most of the season’s U.S. and European flu cases, in next season’s influenza vaccination, the AP/Newport News Daily Press reports.
Assembly Unanimously Approves Budget Measures, Excluding Funding Cuts to Health Programs
The Assembly on Thursday unanimously voted to approve a legislative package that would eliminate $1 billion from the fiscal year 2003-2004 state budget through fund shifts and borrowing but did not approve cuts to health care programs included in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) proposal for $1.9 billion in midyear funding reductions, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Senate To Hold Cloture Vote To End Debate on Limited Medical Malpractice Bill
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday plans to hold a cloture vote to limit debate on a bill (S 2061) that would cap noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits against OB/GYNs at $250,000, Congressional Quarterly Weekly reports.
U.S. Postal Service Could Deliver Antibiotics in Event of Bioterrorist Attack
The U.S. Postal Service has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security and HHS to develop a plan to deliver antibiotics and other medications to “supplement local public health programs in the event of a catastrophe,” USPS officials said on Wednesday, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.
California Supreme Court Rejects Motion To Reduce Award to Former Tenet Executive
The California Supreme Court has rejected a petition by Santa Barbara-based Tenet Healthcare to review an appellate court decision to award about $148 million to a former executive fired in 1993, Tenet officials said, Reuters/Los Angeles Times reports.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and former Govs. Edmund Brown (D), Gray Davis (D), George Deukmejian (R) and Pete Wilson (R) will address the budget and other state issues on an installment of “California Connected” to air Thursday, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean Ends Candidacy for Democratic Presidential Nomination
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D) on Wednesday withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination after failing to win any of the 17 primary contests so far but vowed to continue campaigning to defeat President Bush and help Democrats regain control of Congress, Long Island Newsday reports.