Latest California Healthline Stories
Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), a physician by training, today is expected to be approved as Senate Majority Leader in a vote by Senate Republicans, replacing outgoing Republican Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who resigned on Friday, the Washington Times reports.
Los Angeles Times Examines Dispute Over Makeup of Federal Scientific Advisory Boards
The Los Angeles Times on Dec. 23 looks at increasing criticism from researchers who say that the Bush administration is conducting “political and ideological screening” of candidates to federal scientific advisory panels to make sure they “recommend no policies that are out of step with the political agenda of the White House.”
Parent Requests Mt. Diablo School District End Abstinence-Based Sex Education Program
A parent is requesting that the Mt. Diablo school district in Concord end a sex education program promoting abstinence, alleging that the group running the program has given students “biased and graphic information” on abortions, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Medicare Physician Payments To Decline 4.4% Beginning March 1
Bush administration officials on Dec. 20 announced that Medicare payments to physicians will decrease 4.4% beginning March 1 as part of the program’s fee schedule for 2003, the New York Times reports.
Contra Costa County Medical Group Joins With Sutter Connect To Upgrade IT Capacity
Contra Costa County’s East County Medical Group has entered a five-year contract with Sutter Connect, a provider of billing and administrative services for health care organizations, as part of an effort to streamline operations and increase use of information technology, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Health Care Workers at Three San Jose Hospitals Owned by HCA Set to Vote on Contract
More than 1,300 health care workers at three San Jose hospitals owned by HCA are scheduled to vote Thursday and Friday on a contract that would give them “substantial” wage and benefit increases and more control over their work conditions, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Blue Cross Announces Plans To Leave Orange County’s CalOptima Program
Blue Cross of California on Friday announced that it will no longer contract with Orange County’s CalOptima program, leaving about 30,000 beneficiaries to find a new health insurance provider by March 31, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Bush Receives Smallpox Vaccine, Shows ‘No Immediate Side Effects’
As expected, President Bush on Dec. 21 received a smallpox vaccination and showed “no immediate ill effects” from the vaccine, the AP/Nando Times reports.
Bush Administration Medical Privacy Rules Lack ‘Safeguards,’ Commentator Says
Recent Bush administration medical privacy rules have created a “deeply disturbing contradiction” that “clamped down” on how doctors practice but allowed “a tremendous loophole” that gives drug companies access to patient information for marketing purposes, according to a commentary by Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University that aired Friday on PBS’ “NOW with Bill Moyers.”
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center To Challenge Nurses’ Vote; Accuses CNA of ‘Misconduct’
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the largest private hospital in California, Friday said it will challenge a vote by its 1,500 registered nurses to join the California Nurses Association and accused the union of intimidation, property damage and “interference with the right to vote,” the Los Angeles Times reports.