03/19/2010
More than one-third of California adults and about one-sixth of the state's children have chronic health conditions, which are the leading cause of death and disability, as well as a large factor behind health care costs, according to a new report prepared by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research for the California HealthCare Foundation. CHCF is the publisher of California Healthline. The report, which uses data from 2007, found that half of residents in the Tehama-Glenn-Colusa county area have a chronic disease, while incidence is lowest in Marin County. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
03/18/2010
A new federal survey on health behaviors suggests that obesity continues to drive up health care costs and contribute to chronic health issues in the U.S. The survey also found that smoking and binge drinking rates declined slightly between 2005 and 2007. NPR's "All Things Considered."
03/16/2010
During the past four years, Ventura County has seen diabetes rates more than double among its Hispanic population. The Ventura County Public Health Department and researchers are examining possible biological, cultural and environmental factors that could be contributing to the increase. Ventura County Star.
03/10/2010
The Senate Finance Committee recently launched an investigation into long-term care hospitals that treat patients with chronic conditions. The investigation will focus on Select Medical Corporation, a for-profit company that operates 89 facilities. New York Times.
03/08/2010
A recent report finds that minority and low-income women in Los Angeles County tend to have lower rates of preventive screenings and higher rates of chronic conditions. Researchers suggest that limited access to care could be a contributing factor. Los Angeles Times.
03/05/2010
UC-Berkeley, UC-San Francisco, UC-Irvine and Charles Drew University are among the recipients of $2.4 million in grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation aimed at testing how personal health records and other technologies can capture data for use in chronic disease care. RWJF announced the grants Wednesday. San Francisco Business Times, Healthcare IT News.
03/05/2010
Riva Greenberg -- a speaker, health coach and author of 50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life -- highlights the 2010 DiabetesMine Design Challenge for new designs for devices or Web applications to help people with diabetes. The contest is sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation, California Healthline's publisher. Huffington Post.
02/24/2010
A new Legislative Analyst's Office report suggests that California's public health surveillance system missed tens of thousands of HIV cases. States receive federal HIV/AIDS support based on their reported population of HIV-positive residents. San Francisco Chronicle.
01/27/2010
Lucy Johns, a San Francisco-based health care planning and policy consultant, writes that health care reform legislation under consideration in Congress would provide billions of dollars for "long-term disease prevention and health promotion," money that health department directors say could "lengthen and enhance quality of life." San Francisco Chronicle.
01/21/2010
At a meeting of the National Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., yesterday, first lady Michelle Obama asked a group of 250 mayors to help combat child obesity, which she said is an epidemic and an economic threat. Obama cited recent statistics that one in three U.S. children is obese or overweight, including half of black and Hispanic children, and likely to develop diabetes. Politico.
01/21/2010
Public health departments in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are seeking funds from a federal grant program designed to help communities tackle obesity and chronic conditions. The grant program was a part of last year's economic stimulus package. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
01/15/2010
A new study suggests that about 60% of the drug-resistant HIV strains in San Francisco could be strong enough to create mini-epidemics. Health officials said physicians should continue following standard treatment protocol for HIV-positive patients. San Francisco Chronicle.
01/14/2010
Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week indicate that the percentage of Americans who are obese did not increase dramatically from 1999 to 2008. The studies indicate that 68% of Americans are overweight or obese. San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Times.
12/07/2009
Some communities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties have significantly higher rates of asthma, cancer and heart disease than neighboring communities, according to data compiled by the Alameda County Public Health Department. As a result, health leaders from the two counties have begun seeking to address problems that can compromise residents' health, including pollution, lack of access to healthy foods and economic stresses. Contra Costa Times.
11/25/2009
This month, the federal government eliminated its prohibition on foreigners with HIV visiting the country and applying for a green card. Immigration lawyers said the ban caused foreigners to avoid testing and to go without medication, as well as skilled workers to be returned to their home countries. Critics of lifting the ban said the move will increase health care costs in the U.S. Los Angeles Times.