Latest California Healthline Stories
Redwood City Police Officers To Begin Inspecting City’s Skilled Nursing Homes
The Redwood City Council last week voted 6-0 to begin an “unprecedented program” under which uniformed police officers will conduct surprise inspections at the city’s two skilled nursing homes, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
UC-Berkeley Decision To Bar Students From SARS-Afflicted Countries Draws Criticism
A Chinese-American rights group and the Department of Health Services yesterday criticized a decision by the University of California-Berkeley to prohibit students from SARS-affected Asian countries from enrolling in the summer session because of fears of SARS, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Philip Morris Sued Again in Illinois Court Over ‘Light’ Cigarettes
Philip Morris USA is being sued again in a Madison County, Ill., Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding Illinois residents by marketing its “light” cigarettes, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Stays in Hospice Settings Longer for Medicare Beneficiaries in HMOs
Medicare beneficiaries with cancer who are enrolled in managed care plans are more likely to enter hospice care earlier and stay longer than those in traditional, fee-for-service Medicare, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Reuters Health reports.
U.S. Patients Report Higher Incidence of Medical Errors Than Those in Other Nations, Study Finds
More U.S. patients with medical conditions reported experiencing medical errors over the past two years than did patients in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, according to a study published in the current issue of Health Affairs, the Miami Herald reports.
University of California-Berkeley Bars Students From Asian Nations Affected by SARS
In an “apparently unprecedented” action, officials at the University of California-Berkeley on Friday announced that the school will not allow students from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore to enroll in the summer session because of the threat of infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
California Public Hospitals Face $3 Billion Deficit Over Next Five Years, Report Says
California’s 26 public hospitals are facing a budget deficit of at least $3 billion over the next five years because of rising numbers of uninsured patients and declining or stagnant financial assistance, according to a report released yesterday by the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, the AP/Sacramento Bee reports.
Los Angeles Health Department Considers Cuts if Rancho Must Remain Open
Los Angeles County might be forced to make $700 million in health cuts by closing other facilities and health services if U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper orders the county to keep Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center open and prevents the county from cutting 100 beds at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, according to county Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
FDA Approves Iressa for Seriously Ill Lung Cancer Patients
The FDA yesterday approved the cancer medication Iressa, manufactured by AstraZeneca, for seriously ill lung cancer patients who no longer respond to standard treatments, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Ventura County Judge Denies Physicians’ Call for Temporary Order in Hospital Policy Case
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Henry Walsh yesterday ruled against doctors from Community Memorial Hospital who were seeking an order to force administrators immediately to suspend policies that physicians say are unfair, the Ventura County Star reports.