Latest California Healthline Stories
Vaccine Liability Provision in Homeland Security Legislation May End Pending Litigation
Pending lawsuits against Eli Lilly and other vaccine manufacturers alleging that their products cause autism would need to be filed again if legislation to establish a new Department of Homeland Security is signed into law in its current form, according to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), the Indianapolis Star reports.
107th Congress Adjourns Without Passage of Several Health-Related Bills
The 107th Congress will adjourn today after a session marked by failures on several health-related bills, such as a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the New York Times reports.
Sen. Kennedy Outlines His Health Care Agenda for 108th Congress
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) yesterday said that he will push for universal health care, a Medicare prescription drug benefit and increased Medicare reimbursements for providers when Congress convenes next year, the Boston Herald reports.
CMS Launches Pilot Smoking Cessation Program for Medicare Beneficiaries
CMS yesterday announced the launch of a pilot project in seven states to test the best ways to help seniors stop smoking, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports.
Advertising companies, whose television campaigns have helped prescription drugs such as Viagra, Allegra and Vioxx become “billion-dollar products,” have begun to expand their role in the development of new treatments, the New York Times reports.
Most California Bar Employees, Customers Support State Smoking Ban, Report Finds
About 75% of bar owners and employees in California support the state ban on smoking in those establishments, and about 80% of bar customers agree that smoke-free bars have an important impact on their health, according to a new report released on Wednesday, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Maine Leads Nation in Provision of Telemedicine Services
Maine has become the nation’s largest provider of telemedicine services, according to officials attending a state telemedicine conference this week, the Bangor Daily News reports.
New Republic Examines Problems in Los Angeles County Health System
The Los Angeles County health system has “evolved haphazardly, beset by corruption and inefficiency ever since its creation” and has “always been underfunded,” the New Republic reports.
Federal Appeals Court To Review Class-Action Status of Doctors’ Lawsuit Against HMOs
In an “important legal victory” for HMOs, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on Wednesday unanimously decided to review the class-action status of a lawsuit filed by 600,000 doctors nationwide against several of the nation’s largest HMOs, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Davis To Call Special Legislative Session, Propose $5 Billion in Reductions To Cover Budget Deficit
Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday said that he will call a special legislative session on Dec. 9 to consider $5 billion in spending reductions and other measures to “staunch the bleeding” in the state’s finances, the Los Angeles Times reports.