Latest California Healthline Stories
New AMA President Calls for More Funding for Gun Safety
During his inaugural speech at the American Medical Association’s annual meeting yesterday, newly-elected AMA President Dr. Richard Corlin called on Congress to provide more funding to the CDC to track gun-related homicides, suicides, deaths and injuries.
Nearly 27,000 National Health Plans members, many of whom live in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, will likely have to switch insurers next year because Tenet Healthcare Corp. — National’s parent company — has said it wants to leave the health insurance business effective Jan. 1, the Modesto Bee reports.
San Diego Medical Society Alliance Looks to Expand Doctors’ ‘Purchasing Power’
A not-for-profit business alliance formed in January by the San Diego County Medical Society recently became operational and will initially focus on lowering administrative costs for providers, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Bush Administration Supports Complete Ban on Human Cloning
The Bush administration said yesterday at a House hearing that it is opposed to human cloning “for any purpose,” including research aimed at finding cures for diseases, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Long Beach Community Medical Center Expects to Reopen With New Name, Fewer Services
Almost one year after Catholic Healthcare West decided to close Long Beach Community Medical Center, the hospital is expected to reopen on Monday with a new owner and a new name, Community Hospital of Long Beach, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Families USA Report Says MCO Execs Get Extensive Benefits
Managed care companies are offering their executives “profligate executive compensations” while they continue to “claim that patient protections” in a patients’ bill of rights are too costly, a new report from Families USA says.
Individual Insurance Coverage Comes With Restrictions
Although insurance companies may be willing to grant health coverage to individuals with “common health conditions,” that coverage is often costly and may come with a number of benefit restrictions, a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found.
Sacramento Area District Attorneys Developing Guidelines for Enforcing State Medical Marijuana Law
District attorneys in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yuba and Amador counties are working to create “uniform standards” to enforce Proposition 215, the 1996 voter-approved ballot initiative that allows individuals to possess, cultivate and use marijuana for medicinal purposes, the Sacramento Bee reports.
AMA Rejects Proposal for ‘Limited Use’ of Medical Marijuana
At its annual meeting this week, the American Medical Association rejected a proposal to “endorse the limited use” of medical marijuana for “seriously ill” patients, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
SEIU Files Suit Against Two Santa Monica Nursing Homes, Alleging Misuse of Medi-Cal Funds
Service Employees International Union Local 399 has filed a lawsuit against two nursing homes operated by Santa Monica Convalescent Centers, alleging that the homes’ operators violated a state law that prohibits the use of state funding to “deter union organizing,” the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.