Latest California Healthline Stories
Los Angeles County Supervisors Debate Measure B in Los Angeles Times Opinion Pieces
Los Angeles County Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Michael Antonovich in two Los Angeles Times opinion pieces today debate a measure on the Nov. 5 county ballot that would raise property taxes to fund the county’s trauma care centers and emergency rooms.
Los Angeles Times Examines Increased Use of Traveling Nurses in California, Nationwide
The Los Angeles Times yesterday examined the increasing number of traveling nurses both in the state and nationwide.
General Electric Union May Launch Nationwide Strike Over Health Plan Cost Increases
Representatives of the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America/GE Conference Board have voted unanimously to authorize a national strike if General Electric raises health care costs for workers and retirees, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Doctors Believe Fear of Malpractice Lawsuits Is Deterrent to Medical Error Reporting, Study Finds
Most doctors agree that reducing medical errors “should be a national priority,” and almost all physicians believe “fear of medical malpractice is a barrier” to reporting errors, according to a study in the current issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Former Vice President Gore Says Bioterrorism Preparedness Should Be Top Health Priority
Former Vice President Al Gore (D) yesterday said the United States needs a “national defense public health act” to address an increased threat of biological attack if the United States invades Iraq, the AP/Orlando Sentinel reports.
Providers Say Covering Fetuses under CHIP Will Not Improve Prenatal Care
Witnesses testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee yesterday said the Bush administration regulation extending CHIP coverage to fetuses would “presumably exclude not only care for delivery, but potentially critical care needed during pregnancy,” CongressDaily reports.
CMS Administrator Tom Scully To Tour Los Angeles County Hospitals
CMS Administrator Tom Scully will visit Los Angeles County on Nov. 6 to assess the local health care crisis, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Group To Provide Medical Record Software to Migrant Workers in Sonoma Valley
In an effort to improve health care for migrant workers, Visitantes Información Acceso will provide medical record software to migrant workers in Sonoma Valley.
Treating Obesity-Related Illnesses Could ‘Bankrupt’ Health Care System, USA Today Reports
As more people in the United States become overweight and obese, an increasing percentage of the population will develop diabetes, and treating the disease and its “catastrophic health consequences” could “bankrupt the health care system,” USA Today reports.
Study Links Lack of Transportation Options to Decreased Access to Care for Bay Area Residents
Accessing health care services for many low-income residents of Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties can be a “frustrating, time-consuming experience” because of a shortage of reliable public transportation, according to a new study released yesterday, the Contra Costa Times reports.