FROM THE FOUNDATION

All Over the Map

Newly updated to include breast cancer, prostate cancer, and spine procedures, this CHCF-sponsored research shows that practice patterns vary dramatically from place to place.

Medi-Cal Transforms

Medi-Cal is the main source of health insurance for one in five Californians. An updated report gives an overview of the program's key features, describes how the program is evolving, and examines the challenges ahead.

Obama Care in the Second Term

CHCF is a long-time sponsor of the UC Irvine Forecast Conference. A webcast of this year's conference on health policy in President Obama's second term is now available.

Prescription Drugs

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05/22/2013

Beaumont Council Votes To Ban Marijuana Dispensaries

On Tuesday, the Beaumont City Council unanimously voted to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. After voting to extend a moratorium against such businesses -- which was set to expire June 1 -- for 12 more months, the council voted to ban the dispensaries altogether. Before the proposed ban can be implemented, it must come before the council one more time. Riverside Press-Enterprise.

05/22/2013

Senate OKs Bill Requiring Larger Print for Rx Labels

The California Senate has approved a bill -- by Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett -- that would require pharmacists to print important drug information on prescription labels in at least 12-point type. Corbett said that the bill "seeks to prevent medication use errors." The California Grocers Association opposes the measure, arguing that the requirement is "unworkable in a real-world setting" because labels already contain a significant amount of information required by the state. The measure now moves to the Assembly. Los Angeles Times.

05/14/2013

California Senate Details Lax Oversight of Drug, Alcohol Counselors

A state Senate report finds that individuals with substance misuse problems and criminal records have been certified as drug and alcohol counselors. It recommends establishing a centralized database to flag high-risk people seeking certification. Riverside Press-Enterprise et al.

05/13/2013

Analysis Finds Lax CMS Oversight of Prescribers in Medicare Part D

A new analysis from ProPublica finds that CMS has done little to monitor unsafe prescribing patterns or investigate unsafe practitioners in Medicare Part D. According to CMS officials, oversight of the Part D program falls to private health plans. ProPublica/Washington Post.

05/13/2013

Inland Empire Region Moves To Close Medical Pot Shops

Following the California Supreme Court's recent ruling affirming local governments' authority to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in their jurisdictions, city and county officials in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are taking legal or legislative action to close any remaining dispensaries. In some jurisdictions, officials are assessing hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney fees, police investigation costs and other expenses related shutting down the dispensaries. Riverside Press-Enterprise.

05/09/2013

Editorial: Medical Pot Ruling Skirts Related Issues

A Contra Costa Times editorial states that the California Supreme Court "got it right" when it unanimously ruled that local governments statewide have the authority to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in their jurisdictions. However, it adds that the ruling "does nothing" to address two related issues: "that the federal government has aggressively maintained that possession and use of marijuana is illegal under federal law and that regulating the issuance of medical marijuana cards has been lax at best and often fraudulent." Contra Costa Times.

05/07/2013

Calif. Supreme Court Says Cities Can Ban Dispensaries

On Monday, the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that local governments in the state have the authority to ban medical marijuana shops in their jurisdictions. The ruling was part of a legal challenge to a ban enacted by Riverside in 2010. AP/Sacramento Bee.

05/07/2013

Opinion Piece Lauds Bill To Close Rx Kickback Loophole

In a Capitol Weekly opinion piece, Hollaine Hopkins -- executive director of the Lupus Foundation of Southern California -- argues that a bill, by Assembly member Toni Atkins, is "common-sense legislation that will shine a light on the dangerous practice of therapeutic substitution and close the loophole in the law that allows pharmacists to take kickbacks for making a therapeutic switch." Capitol Weekly.

05/02/2013

Coalition Developing Ballot Measure on Rx Drug Misuse

A coalition of consumer groups and trial lawyers is launching a campaign for a proposed November 2014 ballot measure aimed at curbing prescription drug misuse and holding doctors more accountable for improper prescribing practices. The group plans to unveil a website to promote the campaign as it works out the details of the ballot proposal. Los Angeles Times.

05/01/2013

Analysis: Large Part of Prison Rx Spending Goes Toward Anti-Psychotics

An analysis finds that California spends more on anti-psychotic drugs for inmates than other states with large prison systems. Officials say that they do not overprescribe such drugs, while an expert says some drugs are used out of fear of violating federal orders. AP/Washington Post.

04/30/2013

Bayer To Offer $1.1B To Buy California-Based Conceptus

German drugmaker Bayer has announced plans to acquire California-based Conceptus -- which manufactures Essure, a permanent birth control method -- for about $1.1 billion, or $31 per share. Finalization of the deal is subject to U.S. antitrust approval and expected by mid-2013. AP/Fresno Bee.

04/29/2013

Medical Board Supports Bills That Seek To Curb Prescription Drug Misuse

The Medical Board of California supports a series of bills that would address prescription drug misuse in the state. The board also has expressed opposition to a bill that would eliminate its authority to investigate physician misconduct. Los Angeles Times, AP/Modern Healthcare.

04/29/2013

Opinion Piece Touts Bill Differentiating Biosimilars

In a Capitol Weekly opinion piece, Gerald Felando -- a dentist and a former Assembly member -- writes that legislation that would require pharmacists to notify physicians when biosimilar drugs are substituted for advanced biologic medications would "ensure patient safety across California." According to Felando, "Leaving patients and physicians in the dark as to when a substitution occurs is spinning the health care roulette wheel" and could endanger patients' health and safety. Capitol Weekly.

04/26/2013

Bill Would Strip Medical Board of Power To Investigate Physicians

A bill by state Sen. Curren Price and Assembly member Richard Gordon would shift the authority to investigate alleged misconduct by physicians from the Medical Board of California to California's attorney general. Sacramento Business Journal, Los Angeles Times.

04/24/2013

Draft Bill Would Create U.S. Rx Drug Tracking System

A bipartisan group of senators has released a draft bill that would create a nationwide electronic system to track the distribution of prescription drugs. The proposed measure would require every entity in the prescription drug supply chain to provide electronic transaction information during ownership changes, strengthen licensing requirements for wholesale drug distributors and require FDA to maintain a database of such distributors. Philadelphia Inquirer’s "PhillyPharma", Politico's "Pulse."

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