Recession Prompting Increase In Number Of People With HIV Seeking Public Services In California

The Los Angeles Times on Sunday examined how the recession is impacting people living with HIV in California. Brad Hare, medical director of University of California-San Francisco’s Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital, said that people living with HIV who have lost their jobs and private health insurance are turning to public and nonprofit clinics for the first time and are responsible for a 12% increase this year in the clinic’s overall patient visits. He added that many of the patients he sees have gone months without receiving medical care. In addition, at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, which also provides HIV treatment, the number of new patients has doubled over the last year, Thomas Soule, a spokesperson for the center, said. The Times also profiled a client of the center (Lin, Los Angeles Times, 5/31).

Oregon Department Of Human Services Selects APS Healthcare To Manage Expanded Statewide Medicaid Program

APS Healthcare, a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions, has been selected by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Medical Assistance Programs, to manage its statewide Medicaid disease and medical care management programs. The integrated program will assist Oregon’s Medicaid and SCHIP fee-for-service clients to access healthcare, minimize catastrophic health events and improve health outcomes through education and interventions that help promote behavior change.

Yolo County, Calif., Approves Proposal To Cut Funding For Health Care Services To Undocumented Immigrants

Yolo County, Calif., Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal to cut county funding for health care services for undocumented immigrants in an effort to save the county more than $1 million, the Sacramento Bee reports (Sangree, Sacramento Bee, 5/20).

California counties have been taking such action amid the economic recession to reduce their budgets. In February, Sacramento County voted to prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving care at county clinics to save an estimated $2.4 million. Contra Costa County last month cut services for undocumented adults, seeking to save an estimated $6 million. Yolo County is facing a $24 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2009-2010 (Kaiser Health Disparities Report, 5/7).

Yolo County, Calif., Approves Proposal To Cut Funding For Health Care Services To Undocumented Immigrants

Yolo County, Calif., Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal to cut county funding for health care services for undocumented immigrants in an effort to save the county more than $1 million, the Sacramento Bee reports (Sangree, Sacramento Bee, 5/20).

California counties have been taking such action amid the economic recession to reduce their budgets. In February, Sacramento County voted to prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving care at county clinics to save an estimated $2.4 million. Contra Costa County last month cut services for undocumented adults, seeking to save an estimated $6 million. Yolo County is facing a $24 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2009-2010 (Kaiser Health Disparities Report, 5/7).

Some Utah Health Providers Raise Concern Over Law Requiring Verification Of Legal Status For Certain Government-Funded Services

Some health care providers in Utah have raised concerns about the effects of a new law (SB 81), set to take effect July 1, requiring agencies to verify patients’ legal status before providing certain government-funded health services, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The new law excludes emergency care, vaccines, and testing and treatment of communicable diseases. Patients who lie about their status in order to receive care could face criminal penalties.

Some Utah Health Providers Raise Concern Over Law Requiring Verification Of Legal Status For Certain Government-Funded Services

Some health care providers in Utah have raised concerns about the effects of a new law (SB 81), set to take effect July 1, requiring agencies to verify patients’ legal status before providing certain government-funded health services, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The new law excludes emergency care, vaccines, and testing and treatment of communicable diseases. Patients who lie about their status in order to receive care could face criminal penalties.

Kaplan University’s New Degree Programs Designed To Prepare Students For Careers In Health Information And Human Services

Kaplan University announced the launch of three new online degree programs designed to help prepare students for careers in the growing health information and human services fields.

“With the U.S. government allocating billions of dollars toward improving medical records management and upgrading information technology systems in hospitals through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the demand for health care professionals with technical skills is greater than ever,” said David Clinefelter, Ph.D., Kaplan University’s Provost. “Employers are increasingly seeking well-educated individuals, and our programs are designed specifically to prepare our graduates to pursue career opportunities in growing industries.”

Kaplan University’s New Degree Programs Designed To Prepare Students For Careers In Health Information And Human Services

Kaplan University announced the launch of three new online degree programs designed to help prepare students for careers in the growing health information and human services fields.

“With the U.S. government allocating billions of dollars toward improving medical records management and upgrading information technology systems in hospitals through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the demand for health care professionals with technical skills is greater than ever,” said David Clinefelter, Ph.D., Kaplan University’s Provost. “Employers are increasingly seeking well-educated individuals, and our programs are designed specifically to prepare our graduates to pursue career opportunities in growing industries.”

Some Sexually Transmitted Infections Increasing In South Dakota; Lack Of Education, Health Services On American Indian Reservations Partly To Blame

The number of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases in South Dakota peaked at record levels last year, and HIV/AIDS cases also are on the rise, according to the state Department of Health’s 2008 infectious disease report, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. The number of chlamydia infections reached an all-time high of 2,948 in 2008, up by 328 since 2007, according to provisional data in the report. Gonorrhea infections increased by 29.4% to 370. There were 34 HIV/AIDS infections reported in 2008, compared with 25 in 2007.

Some Sexually Transmitted Infections Increasing In South Dakota; Lack Of Education, Health Services On American Indian Reservations Partly To Blame

The number of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases in South Dakota peaked at record levels last year, and HIV/AIDS cases also are on the rise, according to the state Department of Health’s 2008 infectious disease report, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. The number of chlamydia infections reached an all-time high of 2,948 in 2008, up by 328 since 2007, according to provisional data in the report. Gonorrhea infections increased by 29.4% to 370. There were 34 HIV/AIDS infections reported in 2008, compared with 25 in 2007.