Latest California Healthline Stories
Chronicle Urges Lawmakers to Establish Prevention and Treatment System for Mentally Ill
Noting that California has “neglected the severely mentally ill,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial urges the state to “build a system of prevention and care.”
Davis Announces Grants to Expand Nursing Home Care Options for Seniors
Gov. Gray Davis (D) on Tuesday announced the award of 28 grants totaling nearly $14.3 million to public and private organizations that will provide “innovative” long term care alternatives to seniors and functionally impaired adults.
State Law Firms to Receive $637.5 Million for Tobacco Settlement
The National Tobacco Fee Arbitration Panel yesterday unanimously awarded $637.5 million in fees to the lawyers who represented California counties and cities in the 1998 national tobacco settlement, the Los Angeles Times reports.
San Mateo County to Give Funds to Combat Hepatitis C
San Mateo County supervisors yesterday agreed to allocate $85,000 per year in general fund money to provide testing and education for residents at high risk of contracting hepatitis C, the most common blood-borne infection in the United States, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Medicare Cuts Waste, Fraud Losses in Half to $11.9B
HHS’ Office of Inspector General reported yesterday that Medicare cut losses resulting from “waste, fraud and mistakes” last year to $11.9 billion, down about 50% from the 1996 total, the AP/Nando Times reports.
‘Prime Time’ to Feature Software Technology Used to Teach Deaf Students to Speak
ABC’s television news program “Prime Time” on Thursday will report on Santa Clara-based Sensory Inc.’s software technology, which is helping deaf children at the Portland, Ore.-based Tucker-Maxon Oral School improve their listening and speech-production skills.
Stakes High for Key Players in Patients’ Rights Debate
With the “drama” surrounding “long-sought” patients’ rights legislation unfolding, the Wall Street Journal outlines the major players in the debate — President Bush and Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), John Edwards (D-N.C.) and Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
Sharp HealthCare Ends Contract with Some Prudential Plans
Sharp HealthCare hospital system has terminated its contract with Prudential’s managed care plans, citing low reimbursements and too few patients, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Senate to Debate Repeal of Ergonomics Regulation Today
Amid lobbying efforts from business and labor groups, the Senate was expected to begin debate this morning on a “controversial” resolution to repeal the Clinton administration’s ergonomics rule, which some Republicans have called unscientific, “overly broad and costly,” CongressDaily reports.
Nurses End Latest Strike at St. John’s Hospitals
Nurses at St. John’s hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo returned to work this morning, marking the end of a four-day strike, the Ventura County Star reports.