Latest California Healthline Stories
VA Commission Recommends Closure of Three Hospitals
A federal commission appointed to review proposed reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs health system on Friday recommended that the VA close hospitals in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Gulfport, Miss., but said that facilities scheduled for closure in Canandaigua, N.Y.; Lexington, Ky.; and Livermore, Calif.; should remain open, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
CBS Pulls Bush Administration’s Medicare Advertisement Pending Outcomes of GAO Investigation
CBS on Friday said that it has stopped running a television advertisement for the new Medicare law (HR 1), pending the outcome of an investigation into the ad by the General Accounting Office, the New York Times reports.
Report Finds High Disease Rates, Health Disparities in San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley has “high rates of disease, poor access to care and a dearth of health care providers,” according to a report released this month at the third annual Central California Health Conference in Fresno, the Fresno Bee reports.
Edwards Challenges Kerry’s Health Care Proposal in Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate
In a Democratic presidential candidates’ debate in Milwaukee on Sunday, Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) challenged Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) health care proposal to insure 97% of all U.S. residents within three years, calling it unrealistic in light of his other campaign promises, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Approval Rating for President Bush on Health Care, Other Issues Decreases, Survey Finds
Public support for President Bush as a president and an individual has declined, as has his approval rating on issues such as health care, economy and jobs and education, according to a Washington Post/ABC News survey, the Post reports.
El Cajon To Use About $900,000 From Reserves To Cover Unanticipated Emergency Medical Costs
El Cajon will take about $900,000 from its reserve account to subsidize its emergency medical services budget, including ambulance expenses, for the current year because of “unforeseen costs,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Introduces Legislation To Address U.S. Racial Health Disparities
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) on Thursday unveiled the Closing the Health Care Gap Act, which they said aims to address racial health disparities, the Washington Times reports.
PacifiCare Reports Lower Fourth-Quarter Earnings
Cypress-based PacifiCare Health Systems on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net income of $31.5 million, or 36 cents per share, down about 15% from $37 million, or 50 cents per share, a year earlier, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Assembly Members Introduce Bills To Help Reduce Prescription Drug Costs in State
A group of Assembly members on Thursday introduced a package of seven bills intended to help reduce prescription drug prices, the Sacramento Bee reports.
HHS Secretary Says He Will Adhere To General Accounting Office Decision on Medicare Advertisement
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday said that he would withdraw a television advertisement for the new Medicare law (HR 1) in the event that the General Accounting Office determines that payment for ads would amount to an illegal use of federal funds, the Washington Post reports.