Latest California Healthline Stories
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Medco, Seeks Permanent Injunction
The Justice Department on Monday filed a civil lawsuit against pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions seeking monetary damages and a permanent injunction for allegedly defrauding patients by improperly switching, canceling and destroying mail-order prescriptions, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Report Criticizes Most States’ Smoking Cessation Efforts for Women
Most states are not meeting national goals for smoking cessation among women, according to a study by the National Women’s Law Center and Oregon Health & Science University, the New York Times reports.
Proportion of Uninsured U.S. Residents Grew by 5.8% in 2002, Census Bureau Says
The number of people in the United States without health insurance last year increased by 2.4 million, or 5.8%, to 43.6 million people since 2001, according to figures released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Davis Likely To Sign Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Bill Before Recall Election, Official Says
A senior official in the administration of Gov. Gray Davis (D) on Monday said that the governor will likely sign before the Oct. 7 recall election a bill (SB 2) that would require some employers in the state to provide health insurance to employees or pay into a state fund that would provide coverage, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Bill To Limit Possession Under Medical Marijuana Law Faces Opposition
A bill (SB 420) passed by the Legislature earlier this month that would limit the amount of medical marijuana that patients can legally possess faces opposition from both supporters and opponents of the state’s medical marijuana law, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau Recommends 2.9% Premium Reduction
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau, a not-for-profit association that represents insurers and recommends premium rates, said on Monday that insurance companies should reduce workers’ compensation premiums by 2.9% in 2004, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Davis Announces Approval of New Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Regulations
Gov. Gray Davis (D) on Monday announced that the Office of Administrative Law has approved new state regulations to establish nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals that will begin to take effect on Jan. 1, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Bustamante To Return Some Funds for Anti-Proposition 54 Advertisements to Donors
Gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante (D) on Monday withdrew some of his anti-Proposition 54 television advertisements and said that he will return some of the $3.8 million in campaign funds used to finance them, the Sacramento Bee reports.
NIH To Give Grants for Stem Cell, HIV Vaccine Research
The NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences announced on Monday that it will award three-year grants totaling more than $6.3 million to three Exploratory Centers for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, the Washington Post reports.
Difference Between CBO, CMS Medicare Legislation Cost Estimates Examined
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examines how different cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office and CMS on a provision to introduce private competition into Medicare could affect negotiations on a final Medicare bill.