Latest California Healthline Stories
California Group Claims Pharmacia Illegally Promoted Pain Treatment Bextra for Off-Label Uses
The Congress of California Seniors filed a suit in California Superior Court in Los Angeles in December, alleging that Pharmacia illegally promoted the pain medication Bextra for a use not approved by the FDA, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports.
The financial crisis faced by Los Angeles County’s public health system is a “harbinger of the predicament soon to face states nationwide,” and a recently approved ballot measure that raises property taxes to fund the county’s trauma care centers and emergency rooms indicates “that health care is returning to the top of voter concerns,” the Washington Post reports.
GOP Plans To Push Caps on Medical Malpractice Awards in Next Legislative Session
The Washington Post on Dec. 29 examined congressional Republicans’ plans for tort reform, including caps on awards in medical malpractice cases.
Los Angeles Times Examines Health Care Fraud in California
The Los Angeles Times last week examined Medi-Cal fraud, a problem that has cost the program “huge sums” in the past few years despite increased state and federal campaigns to address the problem.
Health Care To Be a Top Priority for the Bush Administration in 2003, Experts Predict
The Bush administration is expected to make health care one of its top priorities in 2003 as the “enduring problems” of cost and access force President Bush to address the issue, Los Angeles Times reports.
San Francisco Chronicle Examines Problems in California Health Care System, Proposed Reforms
The San Francisco Chronicle last week examined the state’s “badly overextended” health care safety net for low-income residents and proposals to address the problem.
Rising Medicaid Costs Contribute to States’ Fiscal Problems in 2003, Report Says
State financial crises related to rising Medicaid costs and declining tax revenues likely will continue in 2003, according to an analysis released Dec. 23 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Washington Post reports.
Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) Elected Senate Republican Leader, To Focus on Health Care
Republican senators and senators-elect on Dec. 23 unanimously elected Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) as their leader, setting the stage for the physician-by-training to become the Senate majority leader when the 108th Congress convenes next week, the New York Times reports.
Sacramento Bee Examines Debate Over Universal Coverage, Legislative Proposals
The Sacramento Bee yesterday examined the debate over health care reform in California, a topic that could become one of the Legislature’s “hottest issues” in the next few months.
Wall Street Journal Examines Bush Administration’s Medicare Reform Plans
The Wall Street Journal on Dec. 23 examines the Bush administration’s efforts to reform Medicare by limiting costs and creating a prescription drug benefit.