Latest California Healthline Stories
Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads ‘Valuable Tool’ for Minorities, NMA Says
Direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising has a “generally positive impact” on minority consumers and could be a “valuable tool” in eliminating racial disparities in health care, according to a study by the National Medical Association, a group representing 25,000 African-American doctors.
FDA Orders Halt of Nicotine Lollipop Sales
The FDA yesterday sent “cease and desist” letters to three pharmacies ordering them to halt sales of nicotine-laced lollipops, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Sen. Don Perata (D-Oakland) has offered a proposal that would impose a five-cent tax on each round of ammunition sold in California to help fund the state’s “struggling” emergency rooms and trauma centers, the Copley News Serivice/San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Former PacifiCare of California Head Named President of Health Net of California
Officials from Health Net of California, a division of Woodland Hills-based Health Net Inc., yesterday announced they have named former PacifiCare of California President and CEO Christopher Wing as president, the Los Angeles Times reports.
University of Texas, Mexican Agency to Establish Telemedicine Services Program
The University of Texas and the Mexican Office of Migrant Affairs have agreed to establish a program to provide telemedicine services and distance learning courses on both sides of the border, the Associated Press reports.
As a result of factual errors in the Stockton Record, California Healthline erroneously reported in an April 9 story that enrollment in Healthy Families has reached about 320,000 and that state officials have asked first lady Laura Bush to participate in several community-based outreach events sponsored by the program. The story should have reported that Healthy Families enrollment has reached more than 500,000 and that state officials have asked California first lady Sharon Davis to participate in the community-based events. In addition, Healthy Families officials said that they plan to select between five and 10 of 40 community-based events to conduct program outreach.
About 36% of Drug Offenders Sentenced Under Proposition 36 Not in Treatment Programs
About 36% of state drug offenders sentenced to treatment rather than prison under Proposition 36 have not complied with treatment requirements, a report released yesterday found, the AP/Ventura County Star reports.
Study Raises Questions about Efficacy of St. John’s Wort
The herbal supplement St. John’s wort may be ineffective in treating people with “moderate[ly] sever[e]” depression, a new study in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association indicates.
Washington state’s Premera Blue Cross Monday announced plans to offer information about its prescription drug formulary in a new handheld computer program to Premera doctors and members, the Seattle Times reports.
Los Angeles Times Writers Win Pulitzer for Series on Homeless People with Mental Illness
Los Angeles Times writers Alex Raskin and Bob Sipchen have won a Pulitzer Prize for a series of 10 editorials examining the issues faced by homeless people with mental illness.