Morning Breakouts

Latest California Healthline Stories

Justices Could Send Abortion Case Back To Texas After Conservative Wing Questions Law’s Effect

During oral arguments on Wednesday, some of the justices debated if there was enough evidence to prove the Texas law at the center of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt was the reason the abortion clinics in the state closed. Meanwhile, the three female justices led the charge against the strict regulations, saying the state was targeting abortion and not other more dangerous medical practices.

Google Donating $1M, Engineering Resources To Combat Zika

“Unlike many other global pandemics, the spread of Zika has been harder to identify, map and contain,” said Jacquelline Fuller, director of Google’s nonprofit arm. In other outbreak news, Republican lawmakers continue to be skeptical of the president’s emergency funding request, saying there’s money left that was earmarked for Ebola. Health officials, however, warn that would cripple the efforts to develop an Ebola vaccine.

Insurers Dream Big With Data Exchange, But Providers Are Reluctant To Cooperate

The creators’ goal is to reduce medical expenses by 2 percent to 3 percent, with savings coming from such things as eliminating duplicate laboratory and imaging tests when a patient transfers care to another hospital. But only one system — San Francisco-based Dignity Health — has so far agreed to join the health information exchange.

Trump Unveils Seven-Point Health Care Plan, But Details Remain Vague

The GOP front-runner’s proposals mostly fall in line with what other Republicans have offered — including revamping Medicaid to be a block grant program and selling insurance across state lines. But his plan to allow prescription drug imports is more akin to what Democrats advocate.