Latest California Healthline Stories
Richman Offers Plan to Aid California Uninsured
On the opening day of the state legislative session, freshman Assembly member Keith Richman (R-Los Angeles) unveiled his “sweeping” plan to offer health coverage to the state’s uninsured residents, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Hospitals Scramble to Handle Surge in Flu Cases
Amidst staffing and bed shortages, Southern California hospitals are “scrambling” to treat flu patients, some of whom are waiting up to six hours to be seen in some emergency rooms, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Donna Shalala Reflects on Legacy in NPR Interview
With the Clinton administration coming to a close, Donna Shalala reflected on her eight years as HHS secretary in an interview on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” highlighting a legacy of “healthier and wealthier” children.
Business Week Chronicles PacifiCare’s Struggles
This week’s Business Week details the problems facing financially ailing, Santa Ana-based PacifiCare Health Systems Inc., which runs the nation’s largest Medicare HMO.
McCaffrey Releases Final Substance Abuse Report
The number of young people, ages 12-17, who use illegal drugs rose from 5.7% in 1993 to 11.4% in 1997 and then dropped to 9% in 1999, according to the final report from White House drug policy director Barry McCaffrey, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
State Announces Proposition 36 Allocations to Counties
State officials announced Wednesday that they will send counties the first payment of $60 million to implement Proposition 36, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Health Net to Receive Settlement from Federal Government
Health Net Inc. said it “expects” the federal government to provide $389 million in back health care claims from its Tricare program, a managed care plan for military personnel, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Despite Prop. 36 Approval, Some Say Jail is Necessary for Some Addicts
Many law enforcement officials and drug treatment professionals say that removal of the threat of jail time for drug offenders under the recently approved Proposition 36 will end a powerful incentive for drug users to “straighten out,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Industry Lobbies Hard to Fight Ephedra Regulation
The “once fledgling” dietary supplement industry has become “a $15.7 billion behemoth that has stalled, softened or killed outright all efforts to restrict” the use of the herbal stimulant ephedra, the Washington Post reports.
Donors to President-Elect Bush Look for Return on Investment
Industry groups that raised record amounts of money for President-elect Bush and the Republican Party have “great expectations” for — and “a few favors” to ask of — the new Bush administration, the Wall Street Journal reports.