Health

Paso Robles Winemaker Battles Valley Fever

Rebecca Plevin — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:55:03 +0000

The quest for the perfect pinot noir lured Todd and Tammy Schaefer from Malibu to Paso Robles in 2001. But a different fate awaited them and their business, called Pacific Coast Vineyards.

“My wife and I had just come up here, to set up shop and continue our practice of winemaking, and, ‘Welcome to Paso Robles, here’s valley fever,’” Todd recounts.

In October of 2003, Todd was running a bulldozer through a vineyard, and kicking up lots of dust. They had no idea that dust would make him ill.

Brown's New Budget Calls for State-Based Medi-Cal Expansion

Pauline Bartolone — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:01:38 +0000

California Governor Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal shows clear intent for a state-based Medi-Cal expansion under the Affordable Care Act. January’s budget suggested a possible county-led expansion.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley says the budget also proposes a way the state will seek to capture money counties currently use to treat the uninsured.

California Soda Tax Proposal Sparks Debate

Pauline Bartolone — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:04:42 +0000

California lawmakers are considering a measure that would tax sugary drinks a penny per fluid ounce. The proposal is intended to cap soda consumption in order to reduce obesity rates. Health Care Reporter Pauline Bartolone in Sacramento has found a range of opinions on the soda tax.

It’s a hot afternoon in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood. Teenagers are out of school for the day. Some have beverages in their hands. Kirk Allen is sixteen years old:

State Raises Questions About Moving Inmates At Risk of Valley Fever

Rebecca Plevin — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:39:30 +0000

In a motion filed in U.S. District Court yesterday, the state Attorney General raised questions about the federal order to exclude inmates especially vulnerable to valley fever from two Central Valley prisons.

Prison Health Advocates Call For More Steps to Stop Valley Fever Outbreak

Rebecca Plevin — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:44:04 +0000

On Monday afternoon, the federal receiver in charge of health care in California’s prisons ordered the state prison to remove inmates from two Central Valley prisons who are especially at risk of contracting valley fever. A day later, the state and experts are digesting that directive. Valley Public Radio's Rebecca Plevin reports, as part of the Reporting on Health Collaborative’s investigation into the disease.

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Inmates At Risk of Valley Fever To Be Moved From Two Valley Prisons

Joe Moore — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:59:22 +0000

The federal receiver in charge of health care in California’s prisons is ordering the state to remove inmates from two Central Valley prisons who are especially at risk of contracting the fungal disease known as valley fever. The move affects about 40 percent of the inmate population at Avenal and Pleasant Valley State Prisons.

Those affected include African Americans, Filipinos, inmates who are HIV positive, have compromised immune systems, or are pregnant or elderly.

California Considers Expanded Roles for Nurses in Primary Care

Pauline Bartolone — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:54:00 +0000

Most counties in California have a shortage of primary care doctors. And with millions more people in the state expected to get health coverage next year, lawmakers are proposing ways to make sure basic care is available in areas that need it. One bill would allow nurse practitioners to treat patients without consulting a physician. Health care reporter Pauline Bartolone reports on what it might mean for patients.

Some nurse practitioners in California already see patients without a doctor in the room. Patients like Anastacia Casperson.

CDC To Hold Valley Fever Symposium in Bakersfield, McCarthy Says

Rebecca Plevin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:30:22 +0000

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will visit the San Joaquin Valley later this year to train public health professionals and the public in recognizing and defending against valley fever, Congressman Kevin McCarthy said Monday after an in-depth meeting with the agency and its director.

Valley's Need For Medical Interpreters Could Increase With Health Law

Rebecca Plevin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:07:15 +0000

When Mailu Lor translates for a Hmong patient, she can’t just repeat the doctor’s orders, word for word. That’s because the Hmong language often doesn’t contain advanced medical terminology, or names for diseases, like diabetes.

“Hmong language is a very difficult language,” Lor said. “We don’t have any dictionary for medical terminology.”

Soda Tax Proposal In Front of California Lawmakers This Week

Pauline Bartolone — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:26:27 +0000

A bill that would impose a tax on soda in California goes before lawmakers in Sacramento this week. Health care reporter Pauline Bartolone says a similar measure failed last session.

The state-wide law would tax sugary drinks such as sodas, energy drinks and sweet teas one cent per fluid ounce. Democratic Senator Bill Monning says something must be done to curb alarming rates of obesity and preventable diabetes.