Latest California Healthline Stories
Bayer to Boost Production of Anthrax Treatment Cipro
German drug maker Bayer AG plans to increase by 25% production of the antibiotic Cipro, the only drug approved by the FDA to treat inhaled anthrax, in order to help meet “surging demand” amid fear of a potential bioterror attack, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Saying “it was no longer appropriate to serve,” Dennis Gillings, chair of Quintiles Transnational Inc., resigned from WebMD’s board of directors, just one day after both companies filed briefs “prolonging” an electronic health-claims data dispute.
San Diego Council Committee Approves Needle-Exchange Program
The San Diego City Council’s Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee yesterday voted 3-2 in support of a one-year pilot needle-exchange program, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Release of Doctor Groups’ Financial Information ‘One Piece of Puzzle,’ Sacramento Bee Says
The Department of Managed Health Care’s recently released report on the financial information of more than 200 doctor groups is “merely one piece of a puzzle that consumers deserve to see,” a Sacramento Bee editorial says.
Pelosi Wins House Minority Whip Position
House Democrats yesterday voted 118-95 to elect Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as minority whip, the second-highest leadership position in the chamber, making the staunch supporter of HIV/AIDS funding, abortion rights and health programs the highest ranking woman in the House’s history, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Third Anthrax Case Confirmed, Now a Criminal Investigation
Federal officials announced yesterday that a third person who worked in a South Florida office has been exposed to anthrax in a case that is now a criminal investigation, the New York Times reports.
CDC Report Finds U.S. Life Expectancy Up, Mortality Down
A CDC report released yesterday found that life expectancy for Americans increased last year, while death rates for adults and infants dropped, marking a “trend toward better overall health” in the United States, the Washington Post reports.
Amendment Slows House Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill
House action on the Labor-HHS FY 2002 appropriations bill HR 3061) “slowed” yesterday after the Rules Committee agreed to allow a vote on an amendment to ban funding of school-based health clinics that offer emergency contraception, CongressDaily/AM reports.
Sonoma County to Host Health Events Targeted at Latinos
Sonoma County will participate in a series of outreach events to address the health care needs of its nearly 80,000 Latino residents, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports.
Indiana County Refuses Translation Services for Burmese Man
Legal and health advocates are concerned that an Indiana county’s refusal to fund translation services for a Burmese man with a contagious disease is symptomatic of a nationwide problem, the Indianapolis Star reports.