Latest California Healthline Stories
CDC Officials Outline Steps Taken To Improve Bioterrorism Preparedness
CDC officials said last week that over the past year the agency has taken steps to improve preparedness for a bioterrorist attack, including opening new laboratories, adding antibiotics and vaccines to its stockpiles and teaching health care professionals and epidemiologists how to respond to an attack, the New York Times reports.
California Healthline Highlights Health-Related News over Past Week
California Healthline today summarizes a number of health-related news reports last week.
California Healthline Rounds Up Recent HHS Action
Under a three-year demonstration project announced last week by the Bush administration, seniors in 23 states will have greater access to preferred provider organizations through the Medicare+Choice program, the Washington Post reports.
San Francisco Chronicle Examines Troubles Faced by State Pharmacy Board
The San Francisco Chronicle today examines the Board of Pharmacy, which is “struggling to keep pace” with a rise in complaints over prescription errors and other mistakes by pharmacies.
Legislature Approves Budget After Cigarette Tax Increase, Spending Cuts Dropped
The Legislature this weekend approved a budget plan for fiscal year 2002-2003 in the closing hours of the legislative session, ending a two-month deadlock, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Electronic Services Provider MedUnite Faces Financial Trouble
MedUnite, a coalition of seven health insurers formed in 2000 to take control of electronic services that link them with patients and physicians, faces “financial trouble,” the New York Times reports.
Bush Administration Issues Final Regulation on Medicare Prescription Drug Card
The Bush administration on Friday issued its final regulation regarding a “long-delayed” Medicare-endorsed prescription drug discount card program that would reduce medication costs for seniors and people with disabilities, the Washington Post reports.
California Healthline Highlights Legislative Action over Past Week
Lawmakers and Gov. Gray Davis (D) addressed a number of health-related bills over the past week before the legislative session ended on Saturday at midnight. A summary of some of the legislative action appears below.
Bush Administration Should Reconsider Medical Privacy Changes
By removing patients’ right to control who has access to their medical records, the Bush administration has “short-circuited” its credibility and “severely undercut medical confidentiality,” Richard Sobel, a senior research associate at Harvard Medical School, writes today in a Los Angles Times opinion piece.
CNN To Begin Revealing Celebrity Guests’ Ties to Drug Makers When They Discuss Medical Issues
CNN officials, acting on revelations that some celebrities appearing on its news programs are being paid to promote certain drugs, have announced a new policy to inform viewers about guests’ financial ties to companies.