Latest California Healthline Stories
Impact of Rx Discount Cards, HSAs Under Medicare Law Examined
The new prescription drug discount cards established under the Medicare legislation (HR 1) signed into law on Monday by President Bush could lead to “confusion with a generous helping of anxiety,” USA Today reports.
Wal-Mart Supercenters Could Affect Los Angeles Health Care System, Report Finds
Wal-Mart Stores’ Supercenters could strain the local health care system and threaten the area’s unionized supermarket industry if the company is allowed to expand into Los Angeles without being required to increase benefits and wages, according to a Rodino Associates report commissioned by the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Polls Indicate ‘Mixed Feelings’ About Medicare Legislation
Two polls released Monday — one by ABC News/Washington Post and one by CNN/USA Today/Gallup — indicate “mixed feelings” among the U.S. public about the recently signed Medicare legislation (HR 1), the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
California Healthline Rounds Up Broadcast Media Coverage of Medicare Signing
California Healthline presents highlights from the broadcast programs that reported on President Bush’s signing of the Medicare legislation (HR 1).
Legislature Resumes Negotiations on Bond, Spending Limit Measures
Legislators in “an abrupt reversal” of earlier actions on Monday “revived stalled talks” over a proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to place on the March 2004 ballot measures to limit state spending and use a $15 billion bond to restructure state debt, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Lawmakers Request Review of Private-Sector Payments to NIH Employees
Reps. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and Jim Greenwood (R-Pa.) on Monday wrote to NIH Director Elias Zerhouni to request a review of all payments that pharmaceutical companies have made to the agency’s researchers over the past four years, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Negotiations Stop Between Grocery Stores, Striking Clerks
Mediated negotiations between three supermarket chains and their striking unionized grocery clerks broke off on Sunday without significant advances on key disagreements over health care benefits and wages for new hires, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Political Consequences of Medicare Law Examined for Republicans, Democrats
Both Republicans and Democrats are “fine-tuning strategies” to use the passage and signing of the Medicare legislation (HR 1) to their political advantage during the 2004 election, CongressDaily reports.
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson Will Not Remain in Position After 2004 Presidential Election
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that although he “won’t rule out even running for office again,” he would not stay in his current position after the 2004 presidential election if President Bush is re-elected.
California Newspapers Examine Statewide Availability of Flu Vaccine
With the announcement on Friday that influenza vaccine manufacturers Aventis Pasteur and Chiron have exhausted their supplies, several state newspapers looked at supply levels of the flu vaccine in California.