Latest California Healthline Stories
Davis Says State Deficit Could Reach $14B
One day after imposing a statewide hiring freeze and ordering cuts of $150 million for the current fiscal year, Gov. Gray Davis (D) said yesterday that the state will likely face a budget shortfall of $8 million to $14 million, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Quintiles’ Database May Give Officials an ‘Early Warning System’ Against Bioterrorism Attack
Looking for ways to fight bioterrorism, federal lawmakers are turning to Quintiles Transnational Corp., hoping that the North Carolina-based company can help implement an “early warning system” in the event of an attack, the Charlotte Observer reports.
Red Cross Destroying 10,000 Pints of Blood
The American Red Cross this week is destroying more than 10,000 pints of expired blood donated shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, USA Today reports.
No New Cases of Anthrax Seen, Mail Precautions Announced
No new cases of confirmed anthrax infection were reported yesterday, and D.C. health officials said yesterday that four people they had considered to have symptoms “highly suspicious” of anthrax infection have been dropped from that category, the Washington Post reports.
House Stimulus Bill Lacks Health Insurance Provisions
The House yesterday on a 216-214 vote “split mostly along party lines” approved a $100 billion, GOP-sponsored economic stimulus bill and defeated rival legislation proposed by Democrats that included health insurance subsidies for unemployed workers, the Washington Post reports.
Panel Participants Disagree on Existence of Physician Shortage
Health care experts at a panel convened by the Kaiser Family Foundation yesterday “disagreed strongly” on whether California has a doctor shortage, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Bayer to Sell Cipro to U.S. Government at 50% Discount
Officials from Bayer AG and HHS yesterday finalized an agreement calling for the drug maker to supply the antibiotic Cipro to the federal government at nearly half its normal cost and to provide further price reductions if additional doses are needed, the New York Times reports.
Senate Bioterrorism Bill Stalled in Negotiations
Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) have “hit a snag” in negotiations on a proposed bioterrorism bill that had been expected to see “floor action” this week, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Anthrax Link to Postal Worker Deaths Confirmed
The number of confirmed anthrax infections increased again yesterday as officials announced that the deaths of two Washington, D.C. postal workers are due to the inhaled form of the disease, the Washington Post reports.
Attacks May Cause ‘Further Pressure’ on Health Care Costs
The Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the subsequent anthrax attacks, are putting “further pressure” on health care costs that were already expected to rise 12% to 15% next year, the Wall Street Journal reports.