Latest California Healthline Stories
Tenet Will Sell Four Hospitals in Arkansas to Triad Hospitals
Tenet Healthcare, the second-largest for-profit hospital chain in the nation, yesterday announced it had agreed to sell four hospitals in Arkansas to Triad Hospitals for $134 million in cash, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Bush Administration Proposes Rule To Alter EMTALA Regulations for Hospitals
The Bush administration is issuing a rule to alter a 1986 law requiring hospitals to examine and treat people requiring emergency care, regardless of their ability to pay, the New York Times reports.
Lawmakers Look To Pass Employer-Paid Health Care Bill Before End of Session
A “sprint is on” to pass a bill (SB 2) that would mandate employer-sponsored health care in California before the end of the legislative session and the recall vote, the Contra Costa Times reports.
U.S. District Judge Rules That Federal Drug Laws Prevail in Medical Marijuana Case
U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel in San Jose last week said that medical marijuana can alleviate pain but ruled that federal drug laws prevail over Proposition 215, the 1996 ballot initiative allowing state physicians to recommend marijuana to sick patients, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Start-Up Costs for New County-USC Medical Center Could Add $240 Million
Start-up costs for building the new Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, which is scheduled to open in 2007, could add as much as $240.5 million to the cost of the hospital — already expected to total more than $800 million, the Los Angeles Times reports.
U.S. Cancer Mortality Rates Decline, Incidence Rates Stabilize, Report Finds
Mortality rates from the four most common types of cancer — breast, colorectal, lung and prostate — appear to have declined, and incidence rates for all cancers appear to have stabilized, according to an analysis of U.S. cancer cases from 1975 to 2000, USA Today reports.
Cigna Expected To Settle Class-Action Suit Filed by Physicians
Cigna is expected to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by hundreds of thousands of doctors for about $500 million, according to a person familiar with the case, the Miami Herald reports.
Republican Conferees To Discuss Stall in Medicare Negotiations
Republican members of the conference committee charged with reconciling the House and Senate Medicare bills (HR 1 and S 1) tentatively have scheduled a Thursday afternoon meeting to discuss stalled negotiations, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Redding Medical Center To Resume Cardiac Program
Tenet officials on Aug. 22 announced that Tenet-owned Redding Medical Center will resume a cardiac program suspended in April, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports.
FDA Warns California Officials About Reimporting Drugs From Canada
The FDA last week sent a letter to California officials warning them that state, county or city efforts to reimport U.S.-made prescription drugs from Canada would “nearly always” be in violation of federal law, the Wall Street Journal reports.