Latest California Healthline Stories
California Medical Association Leadership, Members Debate Support of Health Coverage Law
Members and leaders of the California Medical Association are “battling” over the group’s support of a law (SB 2) that will require some companies to provide health insurance to their workers or pay into a state fund that would provide such coverage, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Philadelphia Inquirer Examines Health Care Proposals of Democratic Presidential Candidates
The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday examined health care proposals introduced by the Democratic presidential candidates to help the uninsured, plans that in large part “have been shaped by the collapse” of a health care proposal introduced by former President Bill Clinton in 1994.
CalPERS Asks Money Manager To Urge Safeway To Negotiate To End Strike
CalPERS has asked Alliance Bernstein, one of the fund’s major money managers, to “exert pressure” on Safeway to continue negotiations to end a three-month grocery strike affecting 70,000 unionized employees and nearly 860 stores in Southern California, fund Chair Rob Feckner said Thursday, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Burton Introduces Bill To Allow Reimportation of Prescription Drugs From Canada for Prisoners
As expected, Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton (D-San Francisco) on Thursday introduced a bill that would allow the state to reimport lower-cost, U.S.-made prescription drugs from Canada for prisoners, the Contra Costa Times reports.
IOM Report Recommends New Federal Research Agency on Treatments for Bioterrorist Agents
Efforts by the Department of Defense to research and develop vaccines and treatments to bioterrorist agents are underfunded, disjointed and have “dismal prospects for successful results,” according to a report by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, the Washington Post reports.
Referendum on Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Law To Appear on November Ballot
A referendum to repeal a law (SB 2) requiring some companies to provide health insurance to their workers or pay into a state fund that would provide such coverage can appear on the November statewide ballot, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled Thursday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
FDA Warns Three Texas Companies To End Reimportation Practices
The FDA on Thursday sent letters to three Texas-based companies to inform them that they must end the reimportation of lower-cost, U.S.-manufactured prescription drugs from Canada within 15 days or could face prosecution, the Washington Post reports.
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Bills Related to State Workers’ Compensation System
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Thursday vetoed two bills related to the state workers’ compensation system.
Senate Votes 65-28 To Approve Omnibus Spending Measure
The Senate on Thursday voted 65-28 to approve an $820 billion omnibus spending measure (HR 2673), including seven bills authorizing funding for federal agencies for fiscal year 2004, which began Oct. 1, the New York Times reports.
Kennedy Introduces Plan To Require Some Employers To Offer Health Coverage
As expected, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Thursday unveiled legislation that in part would require some employers to offer health insurance to employees, CongressDaily reports.