Latest California Healthline Stories
CHW Sells Emergency Management Group Back to Physician Group
To help cut financial losses, Catholic Healthcare West announced yesterday that it has “sold selected assets” of Meriten Emergency Medicine Management back to Roseville-based Emergency Physicians Medical Group, the company that originally sold the management group to CHW in 1998, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Nevada Assembly Votes to Legalize Medical Marijuana
The Nevada House yesterday approved a bill already passed by the Senate that would “legalize marijuana for medical purposes and relax penalties for possession of the drug,” the AP/Nando Times reports.
Quality Data, Medicare+Choice to Be Part of HCFA Overhaul Plan
As part of an effort to “overhaul” HCFA, agency officials plan to issue “detailed ratings of the quality of care” given to Medicare beneficiaries and to increase enrollment in Medicare+Choice, the Washington Post reports.
Media Observe 20th Anniversary of First Report of AIDS
Newspapers today are filled with articles observing the 20th anniversary of the first published report about the disease that, although unidentified at the time, would come to be known as AIDS.
State Senate Approves Bill to Require Health Plans to Cover Drug, Alcohol Treatment
Under a bill (SB 599) approved yesterday by the state Senate, the state’s health plans would be required to cover drug and alcohol abuse treatment, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.
State Senate Passes Bill Barring Mandatory Overtime for Nurses
The state Senate yesterday passed by a 21-11 margin a bill (SB 1027) that would prevent nurses from being forced to work overtime except in a state of emergency declared by the state, federal or county government, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Doctors Often Fail to ‘Cover Everything’ in Physical Exams
With doctors “running to the next appointment,” physical examinations often “fee[l] more like a pit stop: Check the cholesterol, check that blood pressure and … it’s back to the races,” leaving patients to wonder, “Did we cover everything?” the Los Angeles Times/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Labor Secretary Chao Pledges ‘Comprehensive Review’ of Ergonomics Standards
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said Friday that her department will move to devise an ergonomics standard less “precipitous” than the regulations issued by the Clinton administration and overturned by Congress earlier this year, the Kansas City Star reports.
Family Health Council Denies San Bernardino County Bid to Ban Emergency Contraception
California health officials on Friday denied San Bernardino County’s request to ban emergency contraceptives in public clinics, “setting the stage for a highly anticipated test” of the Bush administration’s position on family planning, the
Los Angeles Times reports.
20th Anniversary Of First Reported AIDS Case Gets Wide Coverage in State Newspapers
Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the first published report on the disease that would come to be known as AIDS.