Latest California Healthline Stories
WellPoint Posts Increased Fourth-Quarter Profit, Revenue
Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks on Wednesday announced that fourth-quarter net income increased 50% to $271.5 million, or $1.73 per share, from $180 million, or $1.18 per share, a year earlier, Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Democratic Presidential Candidates’ Health Care Proposals
The Los Angeles Times on Thursday examined the “political paradox” in which U.S. voters in polls rank health care as an important concern but also cite health care is a “nonissue” in their decisions on which Democratic presidential candidate to support.
House Judiciary Committee Passes Bill To Ban Obesity-Related Lawsuits Against Food Manufacturers
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday by voice vote passed a bill (HR 339) that would protect food manufacturers from certain lawsuits, according to CongressDaily Markup Reports.
Tenet To Sell 27 Hospitals, Including 19 in California
As expected, Santa Barbara-based Tenet Healthcare on Wednesday announced plans to sell 27 of its 100 hospitals, including 19 in its core California market, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
President Bush Discusses Health Care Proposals in Speech
President Bush on Wednesday in a Washington, D.C., speech promoted his proposals to reduce health care costs and address the issue of the uninsured, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ventura County Behavioral Health Emergency Team Reopens Office in Thousand Oaks
The Ventura County Behavioral Health Department mobile crisis team this month reopened its office in Thousand Oaks after being closed for four months because of county budget limitations, the Ventura County Star reports.
Ventura County Board of Supervisors Votes To Follow State Medical Marijuana Guidelines
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-1 in favor of a rule to allow people who use marijuana for medical reasons to cultivate six mature plants and keep on hand eight ounces of dried marijuana, ending “for now board debate on how much marijuana county law enforcement should allow if it is being used on a doctor’s advice,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Sacramento Bee Columnists Examine Health Care Issues
During the past week, two Sacramento Bee columnists have addressed health care issues affecting California.
Changes to State Workers’ Compensation System Could Reduce Costs, Audit Finds
Changes to the state’s $29 billion workers’ compensation system signed into law last year could “put a significant dent” in some of the program’s costs, including outpatient surgery center costs and prescription drug costs, according to an audit by the Bureau of State Audits, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve a “strongly worded” motion that denied that the board had any plans to close Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reports.