Latest California Healthline Stories
Syphilis Outbreak in California Linked to Risky Behavior and Failure of Public Health System
The recent rise in syphilis cases in California, most prevalent in Los Angeles County, reflects an increase in high-risk sexual behavior by gay and bisexual men and a failure of the state’s public health tracking system, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Bill Would Allow Food Stamp Recipients to Buy Vitamins
A provision in the Senate agriculture bill would allow food stamp recipients to use their benefits to purchase vitamin and mineral supplements, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports.
Medical Marijuana Advocates Seek Ballot Initiative to Test States’ Right to Distribute Drug
The activist group that backed Proposition 215, California’s 1996 medical marijuana initiative, wants to establish a new ballot measure in Arizona, Washington or Oregon to test whether a state government can distribute the drug to patients, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Health Plan of the Redwoods Reaches Contract Agreement with Primary Care Associates
Health Plan of the Redwoods and Primary Care Associates have reached a contract agreement, ending one of the “most contentious” negotiations between an insurer and a medical group over reimbursement rates, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports.
California to Lose $400M Under Revisions to Medicaid Reimbursement Formula
Under planned revisions to the formula that sets levels for federal and state contributions to Medicaid and other health programs for the poor, in fiscal year 2003 California will receive $400 million less from the federal government for Medi-Cal, the Los Angeles Times reports.
‘No Progress’ in Debate over Stimulus Bill
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and top Bush administration officials discussed economic stimulus legislation Sunday, but “exhibited no progress in their standoff” on the issue, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Bush to Offer New, ‘More Detailed’ Rx Discount Card Plan
President Bush will propose a new, “more detailed” pharmacy discount card plan for Medicare beneficiaries within the next two weeks, several months after a federal judge ruled that the Bush administration “lacked the authority” to implement a similar program proposed in July, the New York Times reports.
Emergency Health Care System Faces ‘Setbacks’
A number of recent “setbacks” to California’s “ailing” emergency health care system could close trauma centers and increase the number of uninsured, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Report Says California Counties Will Have to Invest Millions to Prepare for Bioterrorism
Increasing their preparedness for possible bioterrorist attack could cost California counties $80 million in start-up costs and an additional $50 to $60 million per year, according to a new report from the County Health Executives Association of California and the California Conference of Local Health Officers.
Medicaid Costs Drive States Deeper into Debt
With rising medical costs and increasing enrollment, Medicaid is “dragging states deep into debt,” forcing them to consider the “prospect of paring benefits to millions of poor people or slashing reimbursements to providers, or both,” the Los Angeles Times reports.