Latest California Healthline Stories
Red Cross Asks for Mediation in FDA Dispute
The American Red Cross filed a motion Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. asking for a mediator to resolve a dispute between it and the FDA over whether the not-for-profit organization has failed to comply with federal regulations over the last 15 years, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.
San Diego County Lags in Providing Health Care to Poor Adults
San Diego County trails the majority of the state’s other counties in providing health care to poor adults, the San Diego Organizing Project says, basing its contention on statewide analysis.
New Research Institute Will Examine Online Security
Johns Hopkins University announced Monday that it will launch a new $10 million Information Security Institute, which will study ways to make online information more secure, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Hillary Clinton Promises to Focus on Health Care
Despite Sen.-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) “troubled history” with health care reform, she said yesterday that she would keep her election promise to “plug away at the issue,” the AP/Baltimore Sun reports.
Disenchanted Doctor Latest to Flee Managed Care
Marking the latest case of a “growing number” of physicians who have “rebelled” against the “bitter pill” of managed care, Dr. Bill Davis, a physician in rural Winters, Calif., this summer left his $70,000-a-year job at Sutter West Medical Group and started a not-for-profit health care foundation, the <Los Angeles Times reports.
Bush Rx Drug Benefit Plan Would Face Several Hurdles
Although Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) has indicated that enacting prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries would be one of his main priorities if he becomes president, he would have to overcome a “morass of political and philosophical disputes” to reach his goal, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Justice Department Joins Lawsuit Against KPMG
The Department of Justice has joined a “whistle-blower” suit alleging that auditing firm KPMG LLP “defrauded” Medicaid and Medicare when it worked for the Nashville-based hospital chain HCA-The Healthcare Co. in the early 1990s, the Bloomberg News/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Studies Predict Specialist Provider Shortage
Several recent studies are predicting that the number of medical specialists will be insufficient to treat an aging baby boomer population over the next 30 years, predicting a “looming health care crisis,” the Columbia State reports.
Nasdaq on ‘Verge’ of Delisting Drkoop.com
The Nasdaq stock market has informed financially ailing drkoop.com that it is “on the verge” of losing its stock listing because the price has been below $1 for 30 trading days,” the AP/Dallas Morning News reports.
Davis Announces Appointments to Medical Board of California
Gov. Gray Davis yesterday announced three appointments to the Medical Board of California, which is charged with assuring the “competence” of health professionals through licensure.