Latest California Healthline Stories
Bush Issues Executive Order To Allow Federal Government To Quarantine Individuals With SARS
President Bush on Friday issued an executive order adding the illness known as severe acute respiratory syndrome to the list of diseases for which the government may enact a quarantine, the Washington Post reports.
Plan To Close Barstow Veterans Home Criticized
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ plan to close the skilled nursing unit of Barstow Veterans Home was criticized at a meeting on Friday by a group of about 200 employees, patients, relatives and city officials, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Two Bills Address Genetic Information Sharing
Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City) has introduced two bills that address ownership of genetic material and whether long-term health care providers should be able to access genetic information, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Lawmakers Should Focus on Solutions To Help the Nation’s Uninsured, Not Politics
With 40 million people uninsured, the cost of managed health care rising, employers dropping coverage, and states planning cuts in public health care programs, “health care gridlock has the attention of politicians and business leaders alike, but politics still drives the debate,” a Los Angeles Times editorial states.
House Government Reform Committee Raises Concerns About ‘Project BioShield’
Members of the House Government Reform Committee at a hearing on Friday expressed general support for “Project BioShield,” a program proposed by President Bush to improve the nation’s defense against bioterrorism, but raised concerns about some provisions of the program, CongressDaily reports.
Philip Morris Asks Judge, Illinois Lawmakers for Smaller Appeals Bond in Court Decision
Philip Morris USA on Friday “scrambled” to avoid paying a $12 billion bond needed to appeal a recent Illinois court decision, the Washington Post reports.
California Journal Features Articles on Health Care
The April issue of the California Journal features two articles addressing health care in the state.
House, Senate Pass Fiscal Year 2003 Supplemental Bills, Include Smallpox Funding
The House and Senate yesterday voted 414-12 and 93-0, respectively, to approve separate fiscal year 2003 supplemental appropriations bills, both of which would fund the war with Iraq and homeland security issues, including funding for a smallpox vaccine compensation program, AP/USA Today reports.
State Delays Sale of Tobacco Bonds Over Illinois Court Decision
California is delaying the sale of $2.3 billion in tobacco settlement bonds because of concerns over an Illinois court decision last month that could bankrupt Philip Morris USA, Treasurer Phil Angelides (D) announced yesterday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Illinois Senate Rejects Proposal To Cap Philip Morris’ Appeals Bond Payment
The Illinois Senate’s executive committee yesterday voted 7-3 to reject a proposed resolution that would cap the cost of appeals bonds, a bill that was advocated by tobacco company Philip Morris USA after it was ordered to pay $12 billion to appeal a recent court decision, the Los Angeles Times reports.