Latest California Healthline Stories
Health providers should screen all adults for obesity based on their body mass index and refer obese patients to intensive behavioral therapy and counseling, according to guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to be published Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the AP/Wall Street Journal reports.
Three Sacramento County supervisors on Monday proposed an ordinance that would create a 20-foot no-protest zone around reproductive health clinics in the county, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Rep. Dick Gephardt Airs New Advertisement Focused on Health Care
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) on Wednesday began airing a new 30-second advertisement in Iowa that focuses on his health care proposal, the New York Times reports.
Los Angeles County Expands Mental Health, Medical Services in Homeless Shelters
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority this year will offer expanded mental health and medical services at all of its shelters through a two-year, $600,000 grant from the California Endowment, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases Among MSM Increase 17%, CDC Says
The number of newly diagnosed HIV cases among men who have sex with men increased 17% in 2002 compared with statistics from 1999, according to statistics published in the Nov. 28 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Washington Post reports.
Two San Francisco Hospitals Provide 92% of Charity Care in City, Report Finds
City-run San Francisco General Hospital and private St. Luke’s Hospital provided 92% of all charity care in the city in 2002, with General Hospital providing the majority of charity care, according to a report released last month by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Democrats Increase Criticism of Medicare Legislation
Democrats on Saturday “ramped up” their criticism of the Medicare legislation (HR 1) Congress passed last month, saying that the bill would do little to control rising prescription drug prices and is the first step toward privatization of the program, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
California Healthline Rounds Up Medicare Broadcast Media Coverage
California Healthline provides summaries of recent broadcast coverage reacting to the passage last week of Medicare legislation.
Benefits, Drawbacks of Medicare Legislation for Beneficiaries, Other Groups Assessed
Under legislation (HR 1) passed last week to add a prescription drug benefit and make other changes to Medicare, beneficiaries, health providers, drug companies and insurers would face “pluses and minuses,” but the “long-term impact probably won’t be known for years,” the Baltimore Sun reports.
Appellate Court Reduces Damages Award to Former Tenet Executive
The 2nd District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles on Tuesday reduced a damage award to a former executive of Santa Barbara-based Tenet Healthcare by nearly half, from $253 million to $148 million, company officials said Wednesday, Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times reports.