Latest California Healthline Stories
The Other Opioid Crisis: Hospital Shortages Lead To Patient Pain, Medical Errors
A nationwide shortage of injectable opioid painkillers has left hospitals scrambling to find alternatives — in some cases leading to dosage mistakes that may harm patients.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Rocky Road Ahead In Congress For Insurance Market Bills
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the problems that are making congressional efforts to pass legislation to stabilize the individual insurance market a long shot.
FDA Moves To Cut Nicotine In Cigarettes, Helping Smokers Kick Habit
In a historic move, the Food and Drug Administration stated its intent Thursday to require tobacco companies to cut nicotine levels in their products to make them less addictive. Stripping cigarettes of addictive power could lead an estimated 5 million adults to quit smoking within a year of the plan.
Lifting Therapy Caps Is A Load Off Medicare Patients’ Shoulders
Last month’s budget deal means Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for physical and occupational therapy indefinitely. Plus, prescription drug costs will fall for more seniors.
Opioid Maker Funds Efforts To Fight Addiction: Is It ‘Blood Money’ Or Charity?
Purdue Pharma, whose signature product helped fuel the opioid epidemic, now wants to help treat it — or at least salvage its own reputation.
Participants In Rogue Herpes Vaccine Research Take Legal Action
Three participants in unauthorized herpes vaccine research file a lawsuit against scientist’s company, alleging adverse side effects.
California’s Tax On Millionaires Yields Big Benefits For People With Mental Illness, Study Finds
The research, focused on Los Angeles County, casts a positive light on a 2004 initiative that expanded mental health services statewide. A recent state audit, however, suggested hundreds of millions of dollars from the initiative were piling up, left unspent by counties.
Patients Overpay For Prescriptions 23% Of The Time, Analysis Shows
Researchers at the University of Southern California analyzed millions of prescriptions and concluded that close to a quarter paid copays that exceeded the cost of the drugs.
Impuesto a los millonarios genera grandes beneficios para pacientes de salud mental
Un impuesto estatal a los ricos ha impulsado significativamente los programas de salud mental en el condado más grande de California, ayudando a reducir la falta de vivienda, el encarcelamiento y la hospitalización.
New Technologies Help Seniors Age In Place — And Not Feel Alone
Motion sensors, Alexa and other voice-assistive technologies give seniors the tools they need to live independently and safely.