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Are vaccines safe? What you need to know about mercury, aluminum and other ‘toxins’

This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.

There is a concept in toxicology that originated from Paracelsus and is paraphrased as “The dose makes the poison.”

It reminds us that all chemicals can be toxic to humans, depending on the dose. Water can kill you if you drink more than your body can handle. Even table salt is deadly if the dose ingested is high enough.

It is also important to understand that the ability to produce toxicity has nothing to do with whether a chemical is natural or synthetic (man-made).

New budget omits an important piece of California’s disaster preparedness

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California’s 70 emergency air ambulance helicopters and airplanes cover nearly 164,000 square miles and serve more than 37 million Californians in their time of need.

To protect newborns and their mothers, air ambulances evacuated an entire neonatal unit at a Redding Hospital and transported the patients to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento during devastating Carr Fire in 2018. Air ambulances fly injured firefighters and residents to burn centers to receive the urgent, life-saving care they needed.

Inexplicably, the state budget process has left out support for air ambulance. The emergency services provided by air ambulances could disappear if a funding stream that expires at the end of this year is not replaced in the pending state budget.

Why does California’s public health department treat CBD like poison?

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — the nation’s second most powerful Republican — and California’s Democratic state legislators completely agree on one thing: Marijuana’s cousin hemp should be fully legalized.

As the late U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill famously said: “All politics is local.”

In McConnell’s home state of Kentucky, tobacco farming is dying out. Farmers are desperate for a replacement crop. And hemp is their choice for the future.

In California, farmers also need a new crop that doesn’t use much water. That’s hemp.

I had a good job and insurance — but high health care costs still drove me to bankruptcy

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Many Americans assume that if they have a good job, they’ll have a good health care plan. And if they have insurance, they assume that they are immune from the health care debate. In reality, many of us are just one major illness away from financial devastation. I know, I’ve been there.

About a decade ago, I was severely injured after I was run off the road by a vehicle while riding my bicycle. The injury caused a series of health issues resulting in more than $50,000 worth of medical bills that I was responsible for paying, despite having good health insurance and financial security. That was $50,000 beyond my premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums that I already paid. In my case, my injury slowed my ability to work, generate income for my business, and keep up with prescription medications, follow-up procedures and large deductibles.

CHA Issues Summary of IPPS Proposed Rule

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CHA has issued a summary of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020 inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule (IPPS) and will host a member forum June 11 at 10 a.m. (PT). During the call, CHA will provide a brief overview of key provisions in the proposed rule and solicit member feedback to inform our comments — specifically on the proposed changes to the area wage index and Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments.

CMS Issues Final PACE Rule

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final rule revising and updating requirements for Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). PACE provides comprehensive medical and social services to individuals who qualify for nursing home care but can still live safely in the community.

Facts Matter on Staffing Ratios

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This year marks the 15th anniversary of the implementation of nurse staffing ratios in California. Unsurprisingly, coordinated and cohesive labor interests are pushing to enhance the penalties for infractions and expand oversight for staffing ratio compliance.

Their claim is that increased penalties — an additional $30,000 for the first infraction (even with zero threat of patient harm) and $60,000 (again, with zero threat of patient harm) for subsequent infractions — will improve patient safety.

You all know better.

CHA Submits Comment Letters on Interoperability and Information Blocking Proposed Rules

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CHA has submitted comment letters in response to two proposed rules — one from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the other from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) —  intended to improve the interoperability of health information. CHA has also prepared a letter template that members can use to support CHA’s policy positions with hospital-specific examples. CHA urges members to use the letters in drafting their own comments, which are due by 2 p.m. (PT) June 3.

CHA Comments on Draft Surprise Billing Legislation Released by House Energy & Commerce Committee

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Congress continues to focus on the issue of surprise billing with several bipartisan bills and proposals put forth by key members of Congress. Last week, House Energy & Commerce leaders Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Greg Walden (R-OR) released draft legislation, on which CHA submitted comments earlier this week. 

Reducing Harm from Respiratory Depression in Non-ICU Patients Toolkit

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This toolkit provides evidence-based recommendations and best practices on safe and effective assessment, monitoring and intervention for patients at risk for unrecognized respiratory depression in a non-ICU environment. This work is a product of a statewide multidisciplinary group from member hospitals and health care systems.

This toolkit was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Medtronic.