Latest California Healthline Stories
Stem Cell Research May Be Hindered by Mouse Cells
“Most or all” of the 60 embryonic stem cell lines approved for federally funded research were created using “feeder” cells from mouse embryos, a fact that may prove to be a “substantial hurdl[e]” for stem cell research because of “stringent” FDA rules governing the use of animal products in humans, the Washington Post reports.
Palomar, Pomerado Nurses Push For CNA Representation
Nurses at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Pomerado Hospital in Poway, “frustrated” with “poor pay and working conditions,” are “pushing for” a vote to join the California Nurses Association, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Health Groups Outline Objections to HIPAA Privacy Rules for HHS Advisory Panel
Health industry leaders reiterated calls for revocation or revision of the HIPAA medical privacy rules on Tuesday, in testimony before an advisory panel of HHS’ National Committee on Vital Health Statistics.
New Study Suggests Human Gene Estimates ‘Too Low’
Estimates released in February of the number of genes that compose the human genome may be too low, according to a study published in today’s issue of the journal Cell, the Washington Post reports.
Officials Investigating Abbott Subsidiary for Medicare Fraud
The U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of Illinois is investigating whether a division of Abbott Laboratories and “at least three other” medical product manufacturers, including Novartis AG, worked with providers to defraud Medicare and Medicaid, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Nearly 80% of California’s Rural Areas Lack an HMO Plan
At least 16 rural California counties have lost all or some of their HMOs, “forcing thousands of residents to pay more for health care,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Judge Reduces ‘Landmark’ Pain Management Award to $250,000
An Alameda County judge on Monday “slashed” a “landmark” $1.5 million jury award to the children of a Hayward man who died “in intractable pain” to $250,000, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
CMS Proposes Diagnostic Mammogram Rate Cut to Hospitals
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA) is proposing a 7.5% reduction in reimbursements to hospitals for diagnostic mammograms next year “despite complaints that current rates” for the “widely used breast-cancer test” are “so low that centers” have been “forced” to stop offering them, the Wall Street Journal reports.
IUD Does Not Increase Infertility, Study Shows
The use of a copper intrauterine device is not associated with an increased risk of tubal infertility among women who have never been pregnant, as previously believed, according to a study published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine.
Colonoscopy Most Effective Screening Test
Colonoscopy, the most expensive and invasive screening procedure for colon cancer, is significantly more effective in identifying “pre-cancerous growths” and tumors than the two most widely used tests, according to a new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.