Latest California Healthline Stories
Bush Administration Launches Ad Campaign To Boost Support for New Medicare Law
The Bush administration on Tuesday launched a $9.5 million television advertising campaign designed to “build public support” for the new Medicare law (HR 1), the Washington Post reports.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Kerry Wins Five of Seven State Primary Elections
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) on Tuesday “continued his dominance” in the race, winning five of seven state primary elections, the Washington Post reports.
Congress Not Likely To Address Health Care Proposals in President Bush’s Budget Plan
Health care proposals included in the fiscal year 2005 budget proposal released by President Bush on Monday “might have to wait” because of “time restraints and the difficulty of moving legislation in an election year,” Bill Hoagland, director of budget and appropriations for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), said Tuesday at a Kaiser Family Foundation Webcast forum, CongressDaily reports.
Walgreens, Other Pharmacy Chains May Withdraw From State Workers’ Compensation Program
Pharmacy chain Walgreens on Tuesday said it would stop participating in the state workers’ compensation program unless the Legislature increases reimbursement rates by March 1, the Orange County Register reports.
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Opens New Paramedic Base Station
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital on Tuesday opened the first new paramedic base station in Los Angeles County in 25 years, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Former Surgeons General Announce Smoking Cessation Plan
Four former surgeons general and other medical experts on Tuesday announced a 10-point plan that includes a $2 per pack increase of the federal excise tax on cigarettes as part of an effort to induce about five million U.S. smokers to quit, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) Will Not Seek Reelection, Likely To Head PhRMA
Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) will resign as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee effective Feb. 16 and will not seek reelection in November, according to a letter Tauzin sent Tuesday to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), the Washington Post reports.
Coalition Aims To Provide Health Coverage to 8,000 Uninsured Children in Sonoma County
Children’s Health Initiative, a coalition of health care and community leaders, is using $80,000 in planning grants to launch an effort to enroll Sonoma County’s 8,000 uninsured children in a health insurance plan by the end of 2004, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
National Smallpox Vaccination Program a Failure, Democratic Staff for House Committee Say
A report released on Wednesday by the Democratic staff of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security called the national smallpox vaccination program a “failure,” CongressDaily reports.
Federal Judge Approves Settlement in Lawsuit Filed Against Cigna on Behalf of Physicians
Officials for health insurer Cigna on Monday announced that Judge Federico Moreno of U.S. District Court in Miami has approved a $140 million settlement of a lawsuit filed on behalf of 700,000 physicians, the Bloomberg/New York Times reports.