Latest California Healthline Stories
Papers Chronicle Red Cross, ABC Blood Donation Debate
The American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers are at opposite ends of a “vigorous debate” over how to deal with excess blood and how to avoid emergency blood shortages in the future, Newhouse News Service/Austin American-Statesman reports.
San Luis Obispo County General Hospital Faces Closure, Consequences for Indigent Care
San Luis Obispo County General Hospital turnaround plan seems “destined to fail,” as the hospital was ordered to trim $5.5 million in costs by June 2002 or “face the consequences,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Waxman Criticizes U.S. Stance on Global Tobacco Controls
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) yesterday said the Bush administration was “marching in lock-step” with the tobacco industry to “undermine or eliminate” global regulations on tobacco, the Los Angeles Times reports.
60% Would Get Smallpox Vaccine Despite Risks, Poll Finds
Nearly 60% of Americans would get a vaccination for smallpox if it were available, even after being informed of its risks, according to a new poll conducted for the Associated Press by the research company ICR.
Los Angeles Times Looks at Hospitals’ ‘Inadequate’ Preparation for Large-Scale Disaster
The Los Angeles Times today looks at how “years of budget cuts” have left hospitals in California and nationwide underprepared for a “massive disaster.”
Sacramento Healthcare Decisions Releases Report on Role of Cost in Health Care System
The not-for-profit health policy group Sacramento Healthcare Decisions has released the final report in a 22-month study on the role that cost plays in health care treatment and coverage decisions, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Letter to Sen. Leahy Likely Contaminated with Anthrax
Federal investigators searching through quarantined mail sent to Capitol Hill discovered a letter on Friday addressed to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that preliminarily tested positive for anthrax and featured the same characteristics as the tainted letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) last month, the New York Times reports.
Sacramento County Supervisors Approve $5.4M Aid Package for County Mental Health Services
Sacramento County supervisors last week approved a $5.4 million aid package aimed at improving adult mental health services, the Sacramento Bee reports.
JCAHO to Begin Considering Bioterrorism Preparedness
Hospitals and other treatment centers will have to be prepared for terrorism and mass emergencies in order to continue being accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Maine Referendum Results May Mean New Debate Over Universal Health Care
A local, non-binding referendum in Portland, Maine, about whether the state should have universal, government-sponsored health coverage “could be the beginning of a new round in the nation’s health care debate,” the New York Times reports.