Latest California Healthline Stories
Santa Ana-Based Latino Health Access Receives $600,000 Grant for Health Education
Latino Health Access, a Santa Ana-based not-for-profit group, has received a three-year, $600,000 grant to help fund programs that educate low-income residents about health issues, the Los Angeles Times reports.
House Democrats Urge Reimportation Provision in Final Medicare Bill
More than 140 House Democrats have sent a letter to Republican members of the conference committee charged with reconciling the House and Senate Medicare bills (HR 1 and S 1) urging them to include in a final bill the House-passed provision that would allow the reimportation of U.S.-made drugs from Canada and other industrialized nations, CongressDaily reports.
All States Cut Medicaid Programs in FY 2003, Report Finds
Medicaid spending growth in fiscal year 2003 increased 9.3%, compared with a 12.8% rise in the previous year, marking the first decline in seven years, according to a report released Monday by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Petaluma Health Care District Assesses Ways To Increase Hospital’s Profit Margins
The Petaluma Health Care District is examining ways to increase the financial viability of Petaluma Valley Hospital after predictions that the hospital’s profit margin will decline this fiscal year, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Judge Orders Bustamante To Return Funds Transferred to Anti-Proposition 54 Committee
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster yesterday ordered gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante (D) to return to donors funds originally obtained through an old campaign account — most of which were transferred to the Cruz Bustamante Committee Against Proposition 54 — and told him he can no longer solicit donations through the old account, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Lewin, Health Policy Experts Express Support for Employer-Sponsored Coverage Bill
California Medical Association CEO Dr. Jack Lewin and a panel of health policy experts yesterday spoke in support of a bill (SB 2) that would require some businesses in the state to provide health insurance to their employees or pay into a state fund that would provide insurance coverage at a news conference organized by the AFL-CIO, the Fresno Bee reports.
Dental Care for Seniors Inadequate, According to Study Presented to Senate Committee
Seniors are receiving inadequate dental care largely because only 20% of those ages 75 or older have dental insurance, according to an Oral Health America study released yesterday at a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.
Republican Legislators Want Additional Workers’ Compensation Reform
Republican lawmakers are using the recall election of Gov. Gray Davis (D) to “reopen the debate” over workers’ compensation reform and push for cuts in the program’s disability payments, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Jury Selection Begins for Remaining Claim Against Philip Morris USA in Los Angeles Trial
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Victoria Chaney today will summon 400 people for jury selection for a retrial of a fraud claim brought by Fredric Reller, a California resident and former smoker, against Philip Morris USA, Reuters/Los Angeles Times reports.
Fair Political Practices Commission Reviewing Legality of Bustamante’s Campaign Donations
The Fair Political Practices Commission on Tuesday said it is investigating whether gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante (D) violated state campaign finance laws by accepting donations — most of which he has transferred to a committee opposing Proposition 54 — to an old campaign committee, Reuters reports.