Morning Breakouts

Latest California Healthline Stories

Crisis Stabilization Unit Closes As Tri-City Medical Center Prepares To Shut Down Behavioral Health Department

Tri-City’s elected board voted in June to close the units, citing financial, regulatory and operational difficulties. The community has been worried that there will be no location for emergency psychiatric hospitalization on the North County coast.

Southern California Gas Co. To Pay For Study Into Health Consequences Of Leak As Part Of $120M Settlement

Residents near the leak have complained of nausea, headaches and nosebleeds after a ruptured well began spewing gas as well as benzene and other air toxics in October 2015. It took nearly four months to seal the well, and residents have since filed hundreds of lawsuits against the company.

Breadth Of Zika Babies’ Health Problems Is Sobering In First Look At How They’re Faring As They Grow Up

About one out of every seven babies who were exposed to Zika in the womb have health complications, with some of the problems emerging well after birth. “We are still early in the Zika story, and we still have lot to learn about how these children will grow and develop,” said Margaret Honein, director of the CDC’s Division of Congenital and Developmental Disorders.

Administration To ‘Unleash’ Medicare Advantage Plans’ Bargaining Power On Some Drug Prices

As a negotiation tool, Medicare Advantage plans will now be able to require patients getting drugs in a doctor’s office or the hospital to try lower-cost medicines before moving up to more expensive ones in a process called step therapy. Insurers already had this option in Part D drug plans — which cover prescriptions such as those purchased by beneficiaries at pharmacies. But the option is now being expanded.

Trump’s Proposed Plan To Penalize Immigrants For Using Medicaid Could Be Winning GOP Talking Point On Trail

The rule, as drafted, would authorize federal officials to revoke legal-resident status from legal immigrants who accept government assistance currently available to them. Polling shows that Americans think immigrants are responsible for high health care costs, but research shows otherwise.

Doctor Accused By Medical Board Of Prescribing Excessive Amounts Of Controlled Drugs

The investigation looked at Dr. Carolyn Joan Rose’s treatment of six patients, with the Medical Board of California listing five causes for discipline — gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, excessive prescribing, incompetence and failure to maintain adequate and accurate medical records.