Latest California Healthline Stories
Schwarzenegger Outlines Workers’ Compensation Reform Plan
Republican gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday “laid out the skeleton of a plan” to reform the state’s workers’ compensation system during a 25-minute interview following a press conference, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Senate Approves Bill Allowing Syringe Sales Without Prescriptions
The Senate yesterday voted 21-10 to approve a bill (SB 774) that would allow pharmacists to sell up to 30 syringes per transaction without a prescription, the Sacramento Bee reports.
After a two-hour meeting yesterday, the 10 Republican members of the conference committee charged with reconciling the House and Senate Medicare bills (HR 1 and S 1) said they had made progress but “still appeared to be far from agreement” on several major issues, the New York Times reports.
Special Assembly-Senate Conference Committee Drafting Workers’ Compensation Reforms
A special six-member Assembly-Senate conference committee currently is drafting workers’ compensation reform legislation that will center on reducing the increasing cost of medical services, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Ventura-Based Community Memorial Hospital Relaxes Sections of Code of Conduct Policy
The board of Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura last week voted to change some the “most controversial elements” of its code of conduct and conflict of interest policy, but a lawsuit filed by the medical staff about the code of conduct and other hospital actions will continue, the Ventura County Star reports.
Flexible Spending Account Funds May Be Used for Over-the-Counter Medication, IRS Says
Employees can use the pretax funds they set aside in flexible spending accounts to pay for some over-the-counter medications, the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department said yesterday, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
Republicans Might Rework Medicare Conference Committee Schedule
Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) yesterday said that Republican members of the conference committee charged with reconciling the House and Senate Medicare bills (HR 1 and S 1) will likely rework the committee’s schedule, after his recent disagreement with House Ways and Means Committee Chair Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) stalled negotiations, CongressDaily/AM reports.
UCLA Medical Center Director Leaving Position
UCLA Medical Center Director Dr. Michael Karpf on Tuesday announced that he is resigning his position to become executive vice president of health affairs at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reports.
California Healthline Rounds Up Health Care Positions for Five Gubernatorial Recall Candidates
California Healthline today highlights health issues discussed yesterday during a debate among five of the leading candidates in the gubernatorial recall election.
State, County Budget Cuts Cause School Districts To Eliminate Nurse Positions, KQED Reports
State and county budget cuts have caused many school districts to lay off nurses, leaving about 2,700 school nurses to treat more than six million students statewide, KQED’s “California Report” reports.