Latest California Healthline Stories
California’s Prison Inmates Not Getting The Psychiatric Care They Need, Report Finds
The review by the state’s chief prison psychiatrist criticizes the flawed system in a 161-page report to a federal judge. In other public health news: the search for a better flu vaccine; the campaign for mind-altering drugs as a PTSD treatment; fish oil pills; and the family of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell sues his doctor over drug prescriptions.
App That Makes Drug Savings Recommendations Adopted By Influential Employer Group
A coalition of 40 large employers, including IBM, Verizon and American Express, will use an online tool from startup Rx Savings Solutions to help employees get better deals on prescriptions. Other pharmaceutical industry developments are reported out of Teva, Pfizer, Merck and McKesson. And in insurance news, Cigna reports strong third-quarter profits and boosts its 2018 forecast.
New State Law Will Push Many Life Sciences Companies To Add Women To Their Boards
Under the gender-parity law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in September, by the end of 2019, the state’s publicly traded companies that currently have all-male boards must add at least one woman. And by the end of 2021, all of the state’s publicly traded company boards must meet a certain gender ratio depending on their size.
Hospitals And Unions In Bay Area Square Off On Ballot Measure To Cap Health Costs
The ballot questions in Livermore and Palo Alto would force every hospital and health care provider in those two cities to charge patients no more than 15 percent above the industry-established cost of provided medical services.
California Makes Gains Insuring More Racial, Ethnic Groups Over Past Five Years
Analysts credit the improved coverage rates to the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Latinos are the only group that still shows a significant disparity to other ethnic groups. And, now that the health law marketplaces are open for business, news outlets detail what’s different this year and offer consumers advice.
Barrage Of Attacks On Health Care Is Forcing Republicans To Promise To Protect People Who Are Sick
In California, the ongoing vaccination debate is influencing the state Senate race in District 6. And the dialysis ballot initiative is being watched nationally.
CMS Chief Draws Criticism For Halloween-Related Twitter Jab At ‘Medicare-For-All’
In health policy developments from around the country: Seema Verma’s tweet; the Trump administration’s decisions related to changes to Wisconsin Medicaid; the Food and Drug Administration clears first genetic test for consumers; and migrant detention.
Groundskeeper’s Monsanto Lawsuit Draws $78 Million Award
That amount was reduced by a judge from the jury’s original $289 million finding in a case claiming that Monsanto’s weedkiller, Roundup, caused cancer. Also in the news, the Environmental Protection Agency extended by two years its approval of a controversial weedkiller, XtendiMax. Meanwhile, some families are moving closer to filing suit against the EPA over a toxic paint stripper.
Anthem Raises Profit Forecast For 2018, Offers Positive Outlook For 2019
The insurer reports profits for the third quarter that were higher than predicted with total revenue of $23.25 billion. GlaxoSmithKline also offers a rosy earnings picture for the past quarter, with sales boosted by its new shingles vaccine.
Cervical Cancer Survival Rates And Risks No Better With Less-Invasive Surgery
The unexpected negative results from two new studies could change how cervical cancer has been commonly treated for over 10 years as a minimally invasive hysterectomy gained popularity. Appendix removal, premature birth rates and precision medicine are also in public health news today.