Latest California Healthline Stories
Kaiser Permanente Sues Former Employee Over Drug Theft
Kaiser Permanente has sued a former pharmacist who allegedly stole prescription drugs from the HMO and sold them “under-the-table” to other pharmacies, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Satcher Addresses Mental Health ‘Crisis’ Among Children
One in 10 children suffer from mental illnesses “severe enough to impair development,” prompting Surgeon General David Satcher to call the situation a “crisis,” the AP/Washington Post reports.
Critics Target ‘Big Holes’ in HHS Privacy Rules
While the Clinton administration last month issued broad new medical privacy regulations establishing the first federal laws that prevent doctors, hospitals and health plans from releasing such information without patient consent, privacy experts have found “big holes” in the rules, including a provision that will allow drug companies, hospitals and for-profit clinics to use medical records in marketing campaigns, the Bergen Record reports.
Task Force to Address Farm Workers’ Health Problems
A 20-member task force has been formed to address a November study that found that California’s agricultural workers face “alarmingly high” rates of stroke, heart disease and diabetes, the Ventura County Star reports.
Alameda Hospital to Close ‘Costly’ Maternity Ward
Hoping to curb financial losses, Alameda Hospital will close its maternity ward Jan. 31, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
AP Chronicles Thompson’s Organ Transplant Fight
Following President-elect Bush’s decision to nominate Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) as the new HHS secretary, the Associated Press today chronicles in several major newspapers Thompson’s long-standing “fight” with the agency over the nation’s organ distribution policy.
JCAHO Pain Management Standards Take Effect
Starting yesterday, hospitals are now required to implement new accreditation standards mandating that providers monitor and treat pain in a “state-of-the-art” fashion from the moment a patient is admitted, the Associated Press reports.
WebMD, News Corp. Restructure Deal
As part of its continuing restructuring plan, WebMD Corp. will revise its “complex strategic alliance” with the media company News Corp., resulting in a $275 million noncash charge in the fourth quarter, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Medical Industry Benefits from Labor-HHS Spending Bill
The medical industry used the “hectic windup” of the 106th Congress to “persuad[e] lawmakers to pay for new high-tech equipment, garnering tens of millions more research dollars and staving off cuts in Medicare payments,” the Washington Post reports.
Orange County Group to Promote ‘Legitimate’ Care for Immigrants
After receiving its not-for-profit status last month, the Orange County Safe Healthcare Coalition now plans to step up a campaign to encourage the county’s immigrants to use “legitimate doctors instead of backdoor clinics,” the Los Angeles Times reports.