Latest California Healthline Stories
CDC Study Finds Schools Have Improved Tobacco Prevention
A new CDC study released Wednesday found that U.S. schools have improved tobacco prevention campaigns for students, but many “scale back the message when it’s needed most,” the AP/Washington Post reports.
Electronic Records Could Save Lives in Emergencies
Last week’s attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon may lead to a greater push in the health care community for increased use of electronic medical records that could “help save lives” by “instantly supply[ing] a person’s blood type, allergies and past treatments” over the Internet, the Wall Street Journal reports.
House Hearing Will Examine Medicare Overpayments
Congress today will hear testimony discussing the “more than” $1 billion Medicare reprotedly overpaid for prescription drugs last year, AP/Newsday reports.
Kennedy, Frist Ask Bush to Fund 2000 Bioterrorism Law
Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) are asking President Bush to allocate funding for a $540 million bioterrorism bill.
OMB Letters to HHS, OSHA on Labeling, Defibrillators ‘Unprecedented’
Letters sent this week by the White House Office of Management and Budget “urging” two federal agencies to adopt regulations encouraging use of automated external defibrillators and labeling foods with trans-fatty acid content represent an “unprecedented step,” the Washington Post reports.
Missouri Considers Medicaid ‘Presumptive Eligibility’
After a year of campaigning by children’s advocates to implement presumptive eligibility in Missouri’s Medicaid program and its CHIP program, MC+ for Kids, the state Social Services Department in early September agreed to include the option as a line item in its budget draft due next year.
Insurance Commissioner Low Will Not Seek Election in 2002
Harry Low, commissioner of the California Department of Insurance, informed his staff on Wednesday that he will not seek election next year for the position, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Mix of Medical Professionals Affects Access to Care
Many U.S. residents are unable to access “quality, affordable health care” because the communities in which they live lack the “proper mix” of care providers, a new HHS study says.
Nurses Approve Contracts with Children’s Hospital Oakland, Avoiding Strike
Nurses at Children’s Hospital Oakland approved a three-year contract Wednesday, “averting a potential strike,” the Oakland Tribune reports.
Santa Rosa-Area Health Care Leaders Hold Follow-Up Conference to Discuss Proposals
About 120 health care leaders will hold a conference in Santa Rosa today to debate health care issues that affect the North Coast, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports.