Latest California Healthline Stories
Editorials, Opinion Pieces Examine Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Debate
Several editorials and opinion pieces published recently address the congressional debate over a Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Bush Renews Call for Quick Agreement on Senate, House Medicare Reform Bills
During three “speedy, campaign-like stops” in Florida yesterday, President Bush reiterated his call for Congress to quickly reconcile the Senate and House Medicare reform proposals and send him a final bill, the New York Times reports.
Many States’ Budget Cuts Affect Health Care Spending
Forty-six states begin their new fiscal years today, and many state governments are cutting spending on health care, eliminating jobs and increasing taxes and fees, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Ventura Doctors Approve ‘No Confidence’ Vote in Hospital Board Leadership
About 75 doctors attending a meeting last week at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura approved a vote of “no confidence” in the leadership of the hospital board, the Ventura County Star reports.
Federal Panel Questions Evidence of Benefits to Taking Vitamins
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has determined that there is not enough evidence to support claims that vitamin supplements reduce people’s risk of developing cancer and heart disease, according to an analysis published in today’s issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Stress of Caregiving Could Weaken Immune System, Study Finds
Long-term stress associated with caring for elderly people with dementia may damage elderly caregivers’ immune systems and lead to an increased risk of heart disease, some cancers, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis or other age-related diseases, according to a study to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Sonoma County Supervisors To Consider Smallpox Vaccine Compensation Measures for Health Care Workers
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today plans to consider several measures that would provide paid leave and other benefits to county health care workers or family members who experience adverse effects from the smallpox vaccine, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Teenagers May Be the Next Target Market for Vaccine Makers
The New York Times today examines the “future of vaccines,” in which a wide range of vaccines against diseases transmitted through sex, drug use or close living quarters may be targeted to teenagers.
Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine Examines Physician Discontent in Medical Profession
The cover story of the Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday magazine examined the increased discontent among physicians as “spiraling costs, untold waste and a troubling rate of error” in the U.S. health care system have led them to “a historical fault line when their prestige, privilege and pay are beginning to crumble.”
Los Angeles Times Examines New Rules To Limit Workweeks for Medical Residents
The Los Angeles Times today looks at rules taking effect tomorrow by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education — the group that establishes and oversees standards for medical training — that will limit the average workweek of medical residents, with the goal of reducing medical errors.