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PROFILE
Lisa Girion
Guest
FROM Lisa Girion
Which Way, L.A.?
Do Painkillers Do More Harm than Good: A Doctor's Dilemma The federal Centers for Disease Control produced a surprising finding today about the epidemic of deaths in America from prescription pain-killers. Drug overdoses kill 16,000 people a year. Previously, it had been thought that abusers got their pills from friends and family. The CDC says 27% of chronic prescription drug abuses got them directly from a physician. A recent study by the LA Times showed that doctors' prescriptions lead to 47% of fatal overdoses in Southern California.
To the Point
Tighter FDA Regulations on Prescription Painkillers For 15 years, increased usage of Vicodin, Oxycontin and similar medications has led to reports that narcotic painkillers cause abuse and addiction. Some members of Congress have proposed new restrictions. Drug company lobbyists have fought back, while patient groups and medical providers have been divided. Now the Food and Drug Administration has recommended new rules for prescriptions of painkillers containing Hydrocodone be re-classified as Schedule II, rather than Schedule III drugs. Lisa Girion of the Los Angeles Times explains what that means.
Which Way, L.A.?
Is California Ready for National Healthcare Reform? The idea of the federal government providing an alternative to health insurance has been adamantly opposed by Republicans and so-called "Blue Dog" Democrats. One proposed way out is to allow the states to provide "public options" of their own. So what about California? How does this state regulate health insurance now?
Which Way, L.A.?
Why Is LA Healthcare More Costly than San Diego's? The cost of healthcare in America is rising so fast that it threatens economic recovery. While millions lack health insurance, some experts claim that other people get too much medical treatment. There are regional variations in medical costs, with the places that spend more not always achieving better outcomes. We hear more about the remarkable difference between certain health costs in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Which Way, L.A.?
White House Forum on Healthcare Reform Comes to Town The Obama White House says it's in “a listening mode,” but as recently as yesterday, some invitees to today's Los Angeles forum on healthcare didn't know if they'd be asked to speak or allowed to ask questions. Was it an open window on the process of healthcare reform ? What are the prospects for single-payer?
Which Way, L.A.?
Will Health Insurance Be There When You Need It? LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo has sued Blue Shield for illegally rescinding coverage of 850 policy holders. Blue Shield calls it a “cheap political stunt…without merit.” But without agreeing to wrongdoing, Blue Shield will pay 3 million dollars to settle an investigation of such practices by Governor Schwarzenegger’s Department of Managed Health Care. Anthem Blue Cross will pay 13 million. It’s all about polices sold to individuals not protected by group benefits.
Recommended
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.