Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval for Expanded Use of Growth Hormone
An FDA advisory committee yesterday voted 8-2 to recommend approval for expanded use of Humatrope, a synthetic growth hormone manufacturer Eli Lilly seeks to make available to short children without growth-hormone deficiencies, Reuters/Boston Globe reports.
Anti-Tobacco Advertising Case Goes to Court Today
A lawsuit filed by tobacco companies R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard seeking an injunction against state-produced anti-tobacco advertisements that they claim violate their constitutional rights begins today in federal court in Sacramento, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.
Attorneys for Tenet Healthcare, the nation’s second-largest for-profit hospital chain, yesterday asked Los Angeles U.S. District Judge Gary Feess to exclude the company as a defendant in a Medicare fraud lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Joint Committee Requests Audit To Examine Prison Health Care Costs
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee yesterday approved a request by two Assembly members to review prison contracts with hospitals to determine if the state is overpaying for inmates’ health care, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Davis Proposes Adding 315 State Employees To Address Medi-Cal Fraud
Gov. Gray Davis (D) is calling for the addition of 578 new employees in the Department of Health Services, including 315 for Medi-Cal fraud enforcement, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports.
The Fresno City Council yesterday voted 4-3 to support home health care workers seeking increased wages and benefits in a new contract with Fresno County, the Fresno Bee reports.
Opinion Pieces Address Debate Over Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Several opinion pieces published today address the congressional debate over a Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Orange County Supervisors Agree To Cut Funds for Health Services in County Budget
Eight Orange County community health facilities will close and other services will be eliminated under budget cuts to the county’s Health Care Agency that the county Board of Supervisors approved yesterday, the Orange County Register reports.
Residents, Doctor Sue Mendocino County Over Restriction on Medical Marijuana Permits
Two Mendocino County residents and a Berkeley-based physician are suing the county seeking to block its policy limiting medical marijuana permits to patients of local doctors, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Congressional Black Caucus Seeks Universal Coverage To Address Racial Disparities
Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus on Sunday called for universal access to health coverage to address disparities in medical care between blacks and whites in the United States, the Chicago Tribune reports.