Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA Announces Plans To Revise Rules for Inspections of Drug Manufacturing Plants
In response to several recent manufacturing problems that have prompted drug recalls, the FDA yesterday said that it plans to “revise the way … inspectors monitor the so-called good manufacturing practices” used in pharmaceutical factories, the Wall Street Journal reports.
NPR’s “All Things Considered” yesterday featured a segment on a bill (AB 2194) that would require accredited medical schools in the state to teach abortion procedures to OB/GYN residents.
Los Angeles Times Looks at Backlash Over Hospital Closings in California
The Los Angeles Times today examines community pressure “building” against large hospital chains as they “amas[s] market power and rais[e] their rates” by acquiring small community hospitals.
New York Times Looks At Use of Handhelds in Hospitals
The New York Times today reports on the use of handheld computers in hospitals.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday called for an investigation into the operations of the county Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports.
Investor’s Business Daily Examines Medicare Costs and Effect of Adding Rx Drug Benefit
With Congress set to return in September, when the two chambers may again consider a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Investor’s Business Daily today examines the history of Medicare’s “soar[ing]” costs and analyzes the future price tag of a potential drug benefit.
Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage Rates Remained Flat from 1997-2001
Despite a healthy national economy between 1997 and 2001, the percentage of American workers covered by employer-sponsored health insurance did not increase significantly during that time period, according to a new report released yesterday by the Center for Studying Health System Change, the AP/Hartford Courant reports.
Assembly Approves Bill To Raise State Smoking Age from 18 to 21; Senate Unlikely To Pass Legislation
The Assembly yesterday voted 42-10 to pass a bill (AB 1453) that would raise the state’s legal smoking age from 18 to 21, the Los Angeles Times reports.
HHS Awards Grants To Expand Community Health Clinics in Rural, Inner-City Communities
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson yesterday announced $30 million in grants to establish 70 new and expanded health centers in rural and inter-city areas that will provide treatment to the uninsured and patients without adequate health coverage.
CalPERS Names Walton Interim CEO
The Board of Administration for CalPERS yesterday named Robert Walton as interim CEO, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.