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Health

Modesto sees 4 suspected fentanyl overdose deaths in 12-hour period

in Community/crime/News

Four people died in suspected fentanyl overdoses in four different areas of Modesto. And it all happened in a 12-hour period.

"When we have this number of deaths in such a short period, we don't think that that's just some random anomaly; we know that there's something which has suddenly changed," said Patrick Hogan, deputy district attorney for Stanislaus County.

Continue reading on ABC10

West Nile detected in Turlock mosquito sample

in Community/Health

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency has confirmed that two mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile Virus — one from the Turlock area and one from the east side of the county.

Three human cases of the virus have been identified in Stanislaus County. As of July 29, WNV has been detected in 23 California counties with the WNV activity confirmed in seven humans, 49 dead birds and 702 mosquito samples. 

Continue reading on Ceres Courier

California Schools Will Now Start Later In The Day Prioritize Children’s Health

in Around California/Education/School

If you listen closely in mid-August, when the 2022-2023 school year starts in California, you might just hear it: the sound of teenagers across the state hitting snooze in unison. That’s because on July 1, a new law went into effect that pushes middle and high school start times throughout the state. Legislators hope this change will improve academic and health outcomes for the state’s teens.

Senate Bill 328 passed handily in the California legislature in 2019 before being signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The new law states that “the schoolday for high schools, including high schools operated as charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The schoolday for middle schools, including middle schools operated as charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m.” Exceptions are made for “rural districts” in the state.

Continue Reading on Romper

Health insurance can now help some Californians find housing

in Health/Housing

Thanks to an experimental new program aimed at easing the state’s profound homelessness crisis, some Californians now can get housing help from an unlikely source: their health insurance plans.

With the launch this year of CalAIM, California is reimagining medical coverage by marrying healthcare and housing statewide for the first time. Under the new approach, certain high-risk and low-income Medi-Cal recipients can use their insurance plans for more than doctor’s visits and hospital stays — they can get help finding affordable or subsidized housing, cash for housing deposits, help preventing an eviction and more.

Proponents say the program acknowledges what doctors and social workers have known for years — it’s incredibly difficult to keep people healthy if they’re living on the streets or at risk of losing their home.

Continue Reading on Silicon Valley

California doctor creates needleless at-home heart health test

in Health

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The B100 method is an at-home, heart assessment monitor and app created to monitor a users heart's health without having to go to the doctor's office.

How does it work? Users can download an app, fill out a questionnaire, order the needleless home test kit for $149 and a team will provide users a LubDub grade on an A through D scale after assessing the user's health.

Continue Reading on ABC10

Truckers, warehouse employees can get basic health care at this Modesto workplace

in Health

The truckers and warehouse workers at Dot Foods can now get basic health care right at the south Modesto business.

So can their spouses and children, under a concept that Dot is spreading across its 12 distribution centers in the United States, at minimal cost to families.

The company expects that about 400 local employees and dependents will use the Dot Foods Family Health Center. It opened in a 1,440-square-foot modular building in late March and had a belated ribbon-cutting Wednesday.

“If you’re feeling under the weather, coming here is what we want you to do,” said Matt Holt, vice president of human resources for Dot.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

Medi-Cal coverage expands to all Californians 50 years and older, regardless of immigration status

in Health/Mental Health

A new law has expanded Medi-Cal coverage to all Californians who are 50 years and older, regardless of their immigration status.

The Older Adult Expansion initiative went into effect Sunday, extending medical, dental, and mental health care to all Californians ages 50 years and older. Other Medi-Cal eligibility rules, including income limits, still apply, but immigration status is not among those rules.

Continue Reading on CBS Los Angeles

California unveils long-awaited standard for drinking water contaminant

in Health

California Monday proposed a long-awaited standard for a cancer-causing contaminant in drinking water that would require costly treatment in many cities throughout the state.

Traces of hexavalent chromium are widely found in the drinking water of millions of Californians, with some of the contamination naturally occurring and some from industries that work with the heavy metal.

The proposed standard is a major step in a decades-long effort to curtail the water contaminant made infamous by the movie Erin Brockovich, based on residents of rural Hinkley, California who won more than $300 million from Pacific Gas & Electric for contamination of their drinking water.

Continue Reading on Jefferson Public Radio

California launches ambitious effort to transform Medi-Cal to ‘whole person care’

in Around California/Health
Edward El, a CalAIM pilot program participant, will soon move into his own apartment after spending the better part of 16 years homeless. (Photo: Martin do Nascimento/CalMatters)

At 66, Edward El has a new lease on life — literally. In two weeks, he’ll move into his own apartment in Berkeley after spending the better part of the past 16 years homeless.

Years ago, a back injury and pinched nerves in his legs made standing and walking painful, and he was laid off from his construction job. He ended up in “shelter after shelter after shelter.”

But nine months ago, El moved into one of 12 Project Roomkey shelters in Alameda County designed to reduce COVID-19 among the homeless population. He was connected with a housing navigator, a counselor and medical staff. They helped El apply for affordable housing and rental assistance vouchers, and coordinated with landlords who would give homeless renters a chance. Now he’ll pay a fraction of the cost to live in an area where one-bedroom apartments often exceed $3,000 per month.

The team also made sure that El was enrolled in Medi-Cal and had transportation to his doctor’s appointments. He said he couldn’t have navigated the array of complex systems if it weren’t for his new case management team. “I’m happy. They knew about programs that I didn’t know about that allowed me to get a place,” he said.

Continue Reading on Red Bluff Daily News

Stanislaus County health officer on COVID-19: ‘It seems to be everywhere’

in Health

Stanislaus County leaders were still unclear Tuesday about what assistance the state will provide for bringing a coronavirus surge under control.

But they hope to use the state’s influence to do more testing and get test results faster.

“Any resources that show up locally we will put to use very quickly,” Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes said. “We need ample testing and a quick turnaround time.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $52 million in support for counties in the Central Valley that are inundated by COVID-19 cases. The surge began about six weeks ago after sectors of the economy were reopened in most areas of California.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

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