Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate Approves Bill To Prohibit Genetic Discrimination by Employers, Insurers
The Senate on Tuesday voted 95-0 to approve a bill (S 1053) that would mandate that employers and insurers could not discriminate against individuals based on their genetic information, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
Independent FDA Committee Begins Two-Day Hearing on Silicone Breast Implants
An independent FDA committee on Tuesday began a two-day hearing to consider a request by California-based Inamed that the agency allow market reentry of silicone breast implants for general use, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Federal Judge Delays Final Approval of Aetna Settlement With Physicians
U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno on Tuesday delayed ruling on a $470 million settlement between Aetna and about 700,000 physicians nationwide who alleged the insurer improperly denied or reduced payments, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
Alameda County Hospital Authority Faces Deficit, Personnel Issues
Five years after the Alameda County Board of Supervisors decided to create the Medical Center Hospital Authority to run the county’s medical system, the “bold experiment is faltering,” and five of the 11 trustees on the authority’s board resigned after the chief executive was fired, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Supreme Court Upholds Decision To Allow Physicians To Discuss Medical Marijuana With Patients
The Supreme Court on Tuesday let stand a lower court’s October 2002 decision that allows doctors to discuss medical marijuana with their patients without federal authorities revoking the doctors’ federal prescription licenses, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Negotiators attempting to reconcile the House and Senate Medicare bills (HR 1 and S 1) are “leaning toward boosting incentives” to keep companies that offer retiree drug benefits from cutting those benefits if Congress passes a prescription drug benefit under Medicare, the Wall Street Journal reports.
NIH Awards $65M To Address Racial Health Disparities
NIH’s National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities has awarded $65.1 million to facilitate health disparities research and eliminate disparities among racial and ethnic minorities and people who are medically underserved, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced on Friday.
Southern California Unionized Grocery Clerks, Mechanics Strike Over Health Benefits, Other Issues
About 70,000 United Food and Commercial Workers union members at more than 850 gropcery stores in Southern California on Saturday went on strike after contract negotiations between the workers and store officials from Albertsons, Kroger’s Ralphs and Pavilions and Safeway’s Vons failed, largely because of disputes over health benefits, the AP/Colorado Springs Gazette reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Health Career Programs in High Schools
The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday examined a trend among Los Angeles-area high schools to add specialized health career programs to their traditional college-preparatory curricula.
California Healthline Summarizes Recent Announcements from Democratic Presidential Candidates
California Healthline features recent health care-related announcements by three Democratic presidential candidates.