Latest California Healthline Stories
UC-Berkeley Nurses To Hold ‘Sympathy Strike’ Next Week in Support of Clerical Workers, Lecturers
The California Nurses Association has announced plans to hold a “sympathy strike” at the University of California-Berkeley next week for three days in support of clerical workers and lecturers unions that are seeking higher wages and better working conditions, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Los Angeles Times today examines a plan approved Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors that will “significantly reduce” the availability of immunizations for children, treatment for communicable diseases and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
Federal Judge Orders GlaxoSmithKline To Halt Television Ads for Paxil
A federal judge in Los Angeles last week ruled that GlaxoSmithKline must halt its television advertisements for its antidepressant Paxil because the ads are “misleading,” even though the FDA approved the spots, the Los Angeles Times reports.
FTC Settles Price-Fixing Charges Against Doctor Groups in Texas and Colorado
The Federal Trade Commission yesterday settled price-fixing allegations against physician groups in Colorado and Texas, part of federal officials’ “increased effort” to investigate practices that increase health care costs for patients, the AP/Denver Post reports.
Sacramento Conference To Address Latino Access to Health Care
State health care professionals and lawmakers will discuss the “enormous challenges” that the state’s Latino population faces in health care access at the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California conference, which begins today in Sacramento, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Scully Calls Iowa Officials’ Proposed Lawsuit over Medicare Reimbursement Rates ‘Ridiculous’
CMS Administrator Tom Scully said yesterday that Iowa state officials’ plan to legally challenge federal Medicare reimbursement formulas is “ridiculous” and “absurdly irresponsible,” the Des Moines Register reports.
Justice Department Gives Pharmacy Benefit Manager Medco 30 Days To Respond to Whistleblower Charges
The Justice Department has sent a letter to Medco Health Solutions giving the pharmacy benefit manager 30 days to respond to “sealed whistle-blower lawsuits” against the company or to enter into settlement discussions, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Los Angeles County Supervisors Finalize Reductions to Health Care System
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors yesterday voted unanimously to close 11 of the county’s 18 public health clinics, close four school-based health centers and end inpatient services at High Desert Hospital in Lancaster as part of a plan to help reduce a $710 million budget deficit in the county’s health system, the AP/Sacramento Bee reports.
Senate Approves Bill To Extend State’s Medical Privacy Law to Pharmaceutical Companies
The Senate yesterday voted 27-12 to approve an Assembly-passed bill (AB 2191) that would require pharmaceutical companies to adhere to the same medical privacy requirements as physicians, health insurance companies and pharmacists, the Associated Press reports.
Philip Morris Criticized for ‘Misinformation’ About Risks of Smoking in Los Angeles Tobacco Lawsuit
In opening arguments of a California smoker’s case against Philip Morris Cos., the plaintiff’s attorney yesterday “blasted” the company for the distribution of “a steady stream of misinformation, disinformation and half truths” over more than 40 years about the risks of smoking, the Wall Street Journal reports.