Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS Review Finds Bay Area Psychiatric Hospital in Non-Compliance
A CMS review completed last week found that John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro was not in compliance in four of the seven areas investigated, hospital officials announced Thursday, the Oakland Tribune reports.
Business Groups Preparing for Costly Ballot Measure Campaigns
California business groups are “gearing up” for costly campaigns that focus on “high-stakes” measures that they expect to appear on the November ballot, including proposals to reduce workers’ compensation rates for employers and to repeal a recent state law (SB 2) set to increase health coverage mandates for employers, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Computer Problem Removes Infants From Medi-Cal
A software problem in the state’s computer system for determining Medi-Cal eligibility is causing “[t]housands” of infants in California to lose coverage, the Orange County Register reports.
General Accounting Office To Launch Investigation Into Medicare Advertising Campaign
The General Accounting Office will launch an investigation into concerns that the Bush administration is using federally funded advertisements and brochures about the new Medicare law (HR 1) for “political purposes,” the Washington Post reports.
Two newspapers this weekend published articles that examined Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), who last week announced that he will resign as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee effective Feb. 16 and will not seek re-election in November.
The annual patient load in Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center’s trauma unit will be reduced by 18%, or by about 500 patients, beginning Feb. 16, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services officials announced Friday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
FDA Issues Final Rule To Ban Sales of Ephedra by April 12
FDA on Friday issued a regulation stating that sales of weight loss supplement ephedra must end by April 12, marking the agency’s first-ever ban of a dietary supplement, USA Today reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Increased Number of Seizures, Arrests Related to Counterfeit Medications
The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined counterfeit prescription drugs in the United States and the “growing number of counterfeit drug seizures and arrests.”
San Mateo County Has Surplus of Hospital Beds, Task Force Finds
San Mateo County currently has “more hospital beds than it needs” at its two existing hospitals, even as plans for a third hospital have been introduced, the San Mateo County Times reports.
Congress To Take Incremental Steps To Address Issue of the Uninsured, Sen. Bill Frist Says
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) on Friday said that Congress this year would take incremental steps to expand health insurance to more U.S. residents, but he added that “it is impossible” to provide coverage for all residents, the New York Times reports.