Latest California Healthline Stories
California Businessman Launches Web Site Promoting Needle Exchange
Concerned by statistics on HIV transmission through unclean needles, a California businessman in October launched a Web site allowing users to contact members of Congress about funding needle-exchange programs, the San Mateo County Times reports.
CDC, NIAID Heads Seek Greater Bioterrorism Funding
Two of the nation’s top-ranking health officials said yesterday that $2.8 billion is needed to prepare adequately at the national and local levels against bioterrorism, a figure nearly double that requested by the Bush administration, the New York Times reports.
Los Angeles Jail Begins Condom Distribution Program for Gay Inmates
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has “quietly” launched a condom distribution program in the section of the city jail that houses gay inmates, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Lawmakers Near Agreement on Stimulus Bill Talks
House and Senate leaders last night appeared to be near agreement on procedures that would allow “serious” negotiations to begin on an economic stimulus bill, which would likely include a provision to help unemployed workers purchase health insurance, the Washington Post reports.
Placerville Hospital ‘Turning a Profit,’ Despite Decision to End Managed Care Contracts
Marshall Hospital, an “independent” 107-bed hospital in Placerville, “is still … turning a profit,” despite a decision to end capitated contracts with “several large HMOs,” the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
Health Net Reaches Two-Year Contract Agreement with Sutter Health
Woodland Hills-based Health Net Inc. has resolved a contract dispute with Sutter Health and has signed an agreement that will expire Dec. 31, 2003, the San Francisco Chronicle reports
CMA President-Elect Discusses Medicare, ERs and HMOs
Federal cuts in Medicare reimbursements and the “financial crisis” among the state’s emergency rooms “will loom over health care this year,” California Medical Association president-elect Dr. John Whitelaw said Tuesday, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Mercy Physicians Medical Group in San Diego County announced yesterday that it will close its East County division, after negotiations with PacifiCare health plan failed to produce a contract, the San Diego Union Tribune reports.
U.S. Faces a Number of ‘Prolonged Shortages’ of Vaccines
The nation faces shortages of vaccines for four of 11 diseases that “can be prevented by routine childhood immunization shots,” U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
Survey of Consumers Finds DTC Ads Have Mixed Effects
About one in eight Americans has obtained a prescription drug from their doctor in response to a direct-to-consumer advertisement, according to a new survey released yesterday from the Kaiser Family Foundation released yesterday.