Latest California Healthline Stories
Nearly 70% of Nursing Homes Do Not Provide Sufficient Care to Residents, Report Finds
Surprise inspections of 112 nursing homes in the state between 2001 and 2003 found that 68% did not comply with a state mandate requiring each resident to receive at least 3.2 hours of care each day, according to a an attorney general’s office report released Wednesday, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Sen. Edward Kennedy To Introduce Legislation To Expand Health Coverage to More U.S. Residents
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Thursday is expected to announce legislation that would require some employers to offer health insurance to employees and create a National Health Benefits Program for people who do not qualify for employer-sponsored or current public health plans, the Boston Globe reports.
Iowa Governor Asks HHS To Allow Pilot Program To Reimport Prescription Drugs From Canada
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) on Wednesday sent a letter to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, requesting that Iowa be allowed to launch a pilot project to reimport lower-cost, U.S.-manufactured prescription drugs from Canada, the Des Moines Register reports.
Senate, House Democrats Increase Efforts To Revise New Medicare Law
Senate and House Democrats, “emboldened by a less-than-enthusiastic reception from their constituents,” have increased their efforts to revise the new Medicare law (HR 1) and “reclaim the issue they have owned for decades,” CongressDaily reports.
Workers’ Compensation Insurers Report Seventh Straight Year of Losses
Workers’ compensation insurance carriers in the state lost nearly $1.8 billion in 2002, the seventh straight year of losses, according to a report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union on Tuesday launched a campaign to raise $1,015,000 to help pay for medical expenses and health insurance premiums for striking grocery workers in Southern California represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Town Hall Meetings Scheduled To Discuss Ballot Measure To Fund Alameda County Medical Center
A series of town hall meetings are scheduled this week in Alameda County to inform voters about Measure A, a proposed sales tax increase that would fund the Alameda County Medical Center scheduled to appear on the March 2 ballot, the Oakland Tribune reports.
FDA To Expand Inquiry Into Dietary Supplements, Commissioner McClellan Indicates
The FDA will become “much more aggressive” about looking into the health effects of dietary supplements that it considers “potentially harmful” following the announcement of a ban on ephedra last month, FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan indicated in a speech at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy on Tuesday, USA Today reports.
Motion To Force Final Vote on Omnibus Spending Bill Fails in Senate
The Senate on Tuesday blocked an $820 billion omnibus appropriations bill (HR 2673), which combines seven appropriations bills that remain for fiscal year 2004, after a motion that would have ended a filibuster and forced a final vote on the legislation failed to receive the 60 votes required for approval, the Washington Times reports.
Assembly Health Committee Chair Says He Will Introduce Bill To Reimport Prescription Drugs
Assembly Health Committee chair Dario Frommer (D-Los Feliz) at a hearing Tuesday said that he will introduce legislation calling for the reimportation of lower-cost, U.S.-made prescription drugs from Canada, the Los Angeles Times reports.