Latest California Healthline Stories
KQED ‘Health Dialogues’ Program to Examine State Nursing Shortage Tonight
KQED’s “Health Dialogues,” a live monthly call-in program sponsored by the California Endowment to examine health care issues in the state, tonight will address the state’s “critical” nursing shortage.
Seven Drug Makers Unite to Offer Pharmacy Discount Card Program
In the latest effort by the pharmaceutical industry to offer savings to seniors, seven drug companies plan to announce today that they will jointly offer a discount card to low-income Medicare beneficiaries that they say will produce savings reaching more than 20% on dozens of prescription drugs, the New York Times reports.
‘Major Gap’ Found Among State Medical Boards’ Disciplinary Actions
Medical boards in different states have a “major gap” in their rate of disciplinary actions against doctors, and patients who reside in states with “less aggressive medical boards are more at risk for doctor-caused injury,” according to a study released yesterday.
Lawmakers to Consider Overhauling State Medical Board in Wake of Newspaper Investigation
A joint legislative committee is holding a hearing today to discuss a possible “top-to-bottom overhaul” of the Medical Board of California, including a new office to handle patient complaints and greater required disclosure of allegations involving physicians, the Orange County Register reports.
Alameda Voters Approve Tax Measure to Help ‘Troubled’ City Hospital
Alameda voters yesterday approved a measure that will impose a parcel tax to help “bail out” the “troubled” Alameda Hospital, the city’s only emergency care facility, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Daschle Hints at Compromise on Health Benefits for Displaced Workers in Trade Bill
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) yesterday told business and agricultural lobbyists that the “door might be open to a compromise” on a health care subsidy component of proposed “fast-track” trade legislation, which would allow trade bills in Congress to face straight up-or-down votes without amendments, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Assembly to Consider Legislation Allowing Over-the-Counter Needle Sales
Legislation that would allow over-the-counter pharmacy sales of up to 30 hypodermic needles or syringes per person will be considered by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Obesity Increases Breast Cancer Risk, Studies Find
Overweight women and women who gain a significant amount of weight during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to three studies presented yesterday at the meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in San Francisco.
Federal Appeals Court Hears California Case on Physician Recommendation of Medical Marijuana
In a case that will affect medical marijuana laws in California and several other states, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco yesterday heard arguments in the government’s appeal of a 2000 ruling that the Department of Justice cannot revoke a doctor’s license to prescribe controlled medications for recommending that patients with debilitating diseases use marijuana to relieve their symptoms, the Contra Costa Times reports.
A San Francisco computer scientist has helped to develop an online database of medical algorithms to make the “handy tools” more accessible to physicians, the Los Angeles Times reports.