Latest California Healthline Stories
Texas Asks SCOTUS to Uphold Patients’ Rights Provision
Texas Attorney General John Cornyn filed a petition with the Supreme Court yesterday asking it to uphold a provision of the state’s patients’ bill of rights that allows individuals to “seek an independent medical opinion if their insurers deny a treatment or test,” the Dallas Morning News reports.
Senate Panel Approves Democratic Economic Stimulus Bill
The Senate Finance Committee last night voted 11-10 to approve a Democratic-sponsored $66 billion economic stimulus bill that includes subsidies to help unemployed workers purchase health insurance, the Washington Post reports.
State Appeals Court Upholds $26.5M Verdict Against Philip Morris
The tobacco industry suffered a “sharp defeat” Tuesday after a California appeals court upheld a “landmark” $26.5 million verdict against Philip Morris Cos. in a lawsuit filed by a 54-year-old lung cancer patient, the Los Angeles Times reports.
HHS Reorganizes Bioterrorist Response Strategy
After being criticized for their response to the recent anthrax attacks, federal health officials have started to “reorganiz[e]” their approach to combating bioterrorism, the Washington Post reports.
Oregon Sues Federal Government Over Assisted Suicide Law
Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking to stop the U.S. Justice Department from blocking the state’s landmark physician-assisted suicide law, the Washington Times reports.
Medical Marijuana Becomes ‘Easy Target’ in Current Political Climate, Chronicle Says
While the nation’s law enforcement officials appear to be “making limited headway against terrorism,” the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has chosen a “much easier target — medical marijuana,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial says.
Kaiser Permanente to Acquire ‘Ailing’ Alameda Medical Group
In a move that will give Kaiser Permanente “better reach” in Alameda County, where it has 20,000 beneficiaries, the insurance company will acquire the Alameda Medical Group, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Bush Rx Discount Plan Can Move Forward, Judge Rules
The Bush administration can “move forward” with its plan to offer prescription discount cards to Medicare beneficiaries after U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman yesterday lifted an injunction
that prevented the start of the program, the AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
Novartis to Offer Rx Drug Discount Card for Seniors
Swiss drug maker Novartis AG yesterday announced a new pharmacy discount card that would allow low-income seniors 65 and older to purchase the company’s brand-name drugs at a discount of 25% or more, the New York Times reports.
Toyota Case May Determine Scope of ADA
The Supreme Court yesterday heard arguments in a case that may determine whether the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act applies to individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome or a similar condition that “interferes with a limited number of tasks,” USA Today reports.