State highlights: Calif. gov. signs bills on prescription drug abuse; Texas groups sue over parts of abortion law; Calif.'s drug Medi-Cal program probed

Oct 1 2013

A selection of health policy stories from California and Texas.

Los Angeles Times: Gov. Brown Signs 2 Of 3 Bills Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse 
Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills Friday aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse but vetoed a third that could have helped the state's medical board identify reckless doctors whose patients died on pills they prescribed (Glover and Girion, 9/27).

The New York Times: Rights Groups And Clinics Sue Texas Over Provisions In Its New Abortion Law
National women's rights groups and Texas abortion clinics filed suit on Friday in federal court in Texas, seeking to block provisions of a new state law that they said would have "dramatic and draconian effects" on women's access to the procedure (Eckholm, 9/27).

California Healthline: DHCS Director Apologizes At Hearing Examining Medi-Cal Drug Program Fraud
Department of Health Care Services director Toby Douglas apologized for "lapses in state oversight" of a Medi-Cal drug abuse treatment program at a hearing yesterday in Sacramento. … Yesterday's joint legislative oversight hearing was convened to address allegations of fraud and Medi-Cal system abuse within the Drug Medi-Cal program, which is overseen by DHCS. Reports by the Center for Investigative Reporting and CNN said rampant and persistent fraud went relatively untouched by state oversight (Gorn, 9/27).