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Appeals court upholds ban on cigarette sales

A federal appeals court on Sept. 9 declined to halt enforcement of a San Francisco ordinance banning cigarette sales in pharmacies.

A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Philip Morris USA's arguments that the city law violated the company's free speech rights to advertise its products. While the ordinance limited tobacco sales, it did not prevent tobacco companies from advertising its products, the court said.

Altria Group, Philip Morris' parent company, is considering its appeal options. The tobacco manufacturer had asked the court to block the law, which took effect in October 2008, while the company's underlying constitutional challenge is pending.

The Litigation Center of the American Medical Association and State Medical Societies filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case in support of the San Francisco ordinance.

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Medicare joins Vermont medical home demo

The Dept. of Health and Human Services announced a new patient-centered medical home demonstration project that will build on a Vermont model, marking the first time Medicare will be a full partner with Medicaid and private insurers on such an effort.

The demonstration of the "advanced primary care" model will give doctors supplemental payments for achieving nationally recognized quality standards, coordinating care across multidisciplinary teams and monitoring patients' care outside the office using health information technology. Under the Vermont model, private insurers work in coordination with Medicaid to set uniform standards for medical homes.

States wishing to participate in the program must certify that they already have established cooperative agreements between private payers and Medicaid, and physicians must meet a stringent set of qualifications. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will develop application materials later this fall with the expectation of launching the demonstration next year.

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Calif. bill would mandate physician work force plan

A bill adopted by the California Legislature would require the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and the California Workforce Investment Board to develop a health care work force plan for the state.

The measure is supported by the California Academy of Family Physicians and awaits action by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The California Medical Assn. has not taken a position on the bill.

Jeffrey Luther, MD, CAFP past president, said more than 3 million Californians -- 9% of the state's population -- live in areas federally designated as having physician shortages. "With health care reform just around the corner, the state of California needs a plan to remedy the shortage, instead of just letting it grow worse."

This content was published online only.

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