Latest California Healthline Stories
More than a year after San Francisco voters approved a ballot measure that directed city officials to consider the establishment of a program to grow and distribute marijuana to people for medical use, a report by the city Office of Legislative Analyst details how San Francisco could establish such a cooperative and also highlights potential problems, the Los Angeles Times reports.
U.S. District Court Judge David Levi this week ruled that the state “had not presented enough evidence to warrant reconsideration” of a previous ruling blocking the implementation of a 5% reduction in Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for some health care providers, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Legislation Would Grant Restaurants, Food Producers Immunity Against Obesity Lawsuits
Assembly member John Dutra (D-Fremont) has introduced a bill (AB 1909) that would grant immunity to California restaurants and food producers in lawsuits alleging that the products they sell cause people to gain weight or develop weight-related health problems, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
FDA Approves ImClone Systems Colon Cancer Medication Erbitux
FDA on Thursday approved ImClone Systems’ colorectal cancer drug Erbitux, the Washington Post reports.
Democrats Renew Criticism Against Medicare Ads, Request Withdrawal
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and 70 other Democratic lawmakers have written to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to ask that he “immediately suspend” an advertising campaign for the new Medicare law (HR 1) until the General Accounting Office determines whether it is an illegal use of taxpayer funds, CongressDaily reports.
Health Net Reports Increased Fourth-Quarter Net Income, Lowers Forecast for First Quarter 2004
Woodland Hills-based insurer Health Net on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $90.3 million, or 78 cents per share, compared with $45.2 million, or 36 cents per share, a year earlier, the Los Angeles Times reports.
FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan Likely Nominee for CMS Administrator Position
The Bush administration is “poised” to nominate FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan to serve as the new CMS administrator, the Wall Street Journal reports.
California Medical Board Director Resigns To Assume New State Position
Ronald Joseph, who for eight years served as executive director of the Medical Board of California, has stepped down from that position and on Wednesday began serving as chief deputy director of the Department of General Services, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 on Wednesday called on the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center to end a “controversial program” that offers “special benefits” to people who donate at least $1,500 annually to the hospital’s cardiology program, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Announces $1 Million Grant for Children’s Health Programs
Officials at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto have announced that the facility would provide $1 million in direct grants to children’s health programs in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, the San Jose Mercury News reports.