Latest California Healthline Stories
Brown Vetoes Two Workers’ Compensation Bills
On Monday, Gov. Brown vetoed two bills that would have expanded a state list of public safety workers who suffer work-related illnesses or injuries and ensured that firefighters and police officers could receive regular, reduced workers’ compensation benefits for two years after they have used their full-time injury leave benefits. In his veto message, Brown said there is no evidence that public safety workers require more time to recover than other injured employees. Los Angeles Times.
Spending To Defeat Props. 45, 46 Far Exceeds Funding for Support
Data from MapLight find that insurers opposing two California ballot initiatives related to health insurance rate regulation and random drug testing of physicians have spent $88 million to defeat the measures. Meanwhile, groups supporting the initiatives have spent about $3.3 million. Los Angeles Times‘ “The Economy Hub.”
Brown Vetoes Bill To Ban the Use of Human Antibiotics in Animals for Non-Medical Reasons
Gov. Brown has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited farmers from using antibiotics in animals that were not prescribed by a veterinarian for medical purposes. The measure aimed to combat an increase in antibiotic-resistant diseases among humans. Brown said the bill is unnecessary because the farm industry already has vowed to follow FDA standards for antibiotic use. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
First U.S. Case of Ebola Reported in Texas
On Tuesday, CDC officials confirmed the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. after an infected man flew on a passenger plane from Liberia to Dallas. The man is being treated at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. New York Times.
Judge Rules Against ACA Subsidies in Federal Exchanges
A District Court judge in Oklahoma has ruled that federal subsidies intended to help U.S. residents buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s federal exchanges are illegal. The ruling sets up another conflicting decision on the issue, which could increase the likelihood it will reach the Supreme Court. New York Times et al.
Los Angeles County To Launch Health Care Program for Undocumented Immigrants
On Wednesday, Los Angeles County will launch a program designed to provide no-cost health care to undocumented immigrants who are not eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. My Health L.A. is expected to help an estimated 400,000 undocumented immigrants by assigning them to a “medical home” where they can go to receive no-cost primary care and health screenings. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
UC-San Francisco will join a $17 million, five-year project that aims to enhance clinical trials designed to test new treatments and medical devices for traumatic brain injuries. The project includes several other universities, General Electric, government agencies — including the Department of Defense — and patient advocacy groups. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF.”
Package of Bills To Overhaul Prison Psychiatric Care Signed by Brown
Four new laws aim to reform psychiatric care in California law enforcement facilities. The bills establish treatment pilot programs for potentially dangerous inmates with mental health issues and allow mental health care staff to view inmates’ criminal records, among other efforts. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Appeals Court Dismisses Pharma’s Challenge to Alameda County’s Rx Drug Disposal Law
On Tuesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected the pharmaceutical industry’s challenge of a 2012 Alameda County ordinance that requires drug manufacturers to cover the cost of disposing consumers’ unused medications. The appeals court ruled that the ordinance — which became the first of its kind in the U.S. — applies equally to all manufacturers and imposes no significant burden on interstate commerce. San Francisco Chronicle.
Brown Signs One Health Care Worker Safety Bill, Vetoes Another
A new workplace safety law requires California hospitals to implement violence prevention plans in all departments. Brown vetoed a separate measure that would have ensured workers’ compensation coverage for hospital employees who contract an antibiotic-resistant staph infection. Sacramento Business Journal, Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”