SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has signed a friend-of-the court brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in support of the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
"Health care reform saves lives, and that is why I am determined to protect this law," Attorney General Harris said.
The filing comes one week after the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of the federal health care reform law in Thomas More Law Center v. Obama. It was the first federal appeals court ruling to address the constitutionality of the landmark health care law.
Attorney General Harris and nine other attorneys general argued in the brief that the Constitution grants Congress broad powers to regulate interstate commerce – and that the decision to purchase health insurance has a significant impact on interstate commerce because it allows the formation of risk pools, lowers health care costs nationally and reduces the cost of uncompensated care.
"The law strikes an appropriate, constitutional balance between federal and state authority over the health care system by creating federal requirements, backed by federal funding, to expand access to affordable coverage, while conferring considerable latitude to allow states to decide how best to design a system of federally-supported coverage that works well for their citizens," the amicus brief states.
The failure of millions of Americans to purchase health insurance has a significant impact on the states. In 2009, more than 7.2 million Californians – nearly one in four people under the age of 65 – lacked insurance for all or part of the year.
More than 5.5 million Californians who could not afford private health insurance are enrolled in government-sponsored health plans, which will cost the state a projected $42 billion in the next fiscal year.
The minimum coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act will reduce the need to shift the cost of uncompensated care of the uninsured – and will thus reduce the expenses now absorbed by the states and by individuals with health insurance.
Others joining California in this brief are Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New York, Oregon and Vermont.
In January, the same group of attorneys general - except the District of Columbia - filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit arguing for the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act: http://oag.ca.gov/news/press_release?id=2032&p=3.
In March, those attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting the law's constitutionality in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: http://oag.ca.gov/news/press_release?id=2047&p=3.
In April, the same states filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit supporting the constitutionality of the law: http://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press_release?id=2067.
The D.C. case is Seven-Sky v. Holder, No. 11-5047, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
The surgeons are using a specialized syringe and new cell separation equipment to extract stem-cell-rich bone marrow from the pelvises of patients.
Called bone marrow aspiration, the surgical team considers it a less-invasive procedure for obtaining the stem cells needed to repair non-healing bones.
They say the technique could enable people to avoid the current standard procedure, which involves surgically removing bone and bone marrow from the pelvis and transplanting it to the fracture site.
“We are offering a promising new alternative for augmenting bone regeneration,” said Mark A. Lee, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and principal investigator of the study. “Surgically removing bone and marrow from a patient’s hip can involve considerable pain and a long recovery. We’re hoping to avoid these problems while remaining at least as effective.”
For most people who have suffered a fracture in one of their long bones – the femur or tibia in the upper and lower leg, respectively, or the humerus in the upper arm – recovery normally takes from three to six months for the broken ends of the bone to grow back together.
Although most fractures respond well to surgery, some cases defy the best efforts of surgeons and do not fully heal, leaving a gap between the broken ends and causing serious complications.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, about six million individuals suffer fractures each year in North America.
In about 5 to 10 percent of cases, patients suffer either delayed healing or fractures that do not heal. The problem is especially troubling for the elderly, many of whom suffer from osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become weak and break more easily. For an older person, a fracture affects quality of life because it significantly reduces function and mobility, and requires an extended period of recuperation.
Lee and his colleagues are working with Rancho Cordova-based ThermoGenesis and Texas-based Celling Technologies to evaluate the effectiveness of a new cell processing device made by the companies that enables the sterile transfer of bone marrow during surgery.
The device separates out bone-forming cells – including stem cells – and produces a concentrated solution of cells the surgeons mix with tiny pieces of donor bone to create the grout-like mixture that serves as the framework for new bone formation. Surgeons pack the mixture into the fracture area before suturing the incision site closed.
“Dr. Lee’s clinical trial is the culmination of five years of collaboration with a high-tech firm, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and our Department of Orthopaedics,” said Jan Nolta, director of the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures. “It is a great model for bringing together industry, academics and medicine to rapidly develop and test important new technology to improve clinical care for patients.”
According to Nolta, adult stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow, are analogous to paramedics because they respond rapidly to areas of tissue damage, enhancing repair, revascularization and blood flow while reducing inflammation and scarring.
Lee and his team are carefully analyzing the cellular composition of the concentrated bone-marrow mixture and correlating their findings to the degree of healing. They are using X-ray imaging, physical examinations and patient questionnaires to track patient progress and results.
“Bone marrow aspiration for treating non-healing fractures could potentially become an extremely important option as our population ages and we expect to see more broken bones,” said Lee, who also is exploring whether the bone-marrow cell mixture can be delivered to the fracture site through a minimally invasive incision rather than open surgery. “This study will help us determine the optimum therapy and technique for non-healing fractures, and we hope that this gentler approach really helps people get back on their feet faster.”
Lee’s co-investigator in the study, which is sponsored in part by ThermoGenesis and Celling Technologies, is Joel Williams, a fourth-year resident in the UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery who has been studying the use of stem cells in improving fracture repair.
The university currently has several other clinical trials using adult stem cells under way, including one for treating heart attack victims and another for people suffering from advanced peripheral vascular disease. The federal approval process also is under way to launch stem cell clinical trials for other diseases and conditions, including retinal occlusion (eye disease) and Huntington’s disease.
If the non-healing bone study provides positive results, Lee and his team plan to conduct a larger, more definitive multi-center clinical trial using this and similar cell-based technologies to demonstrate the true efficacy of using stem cells as an alternative to traditional bone grafting techniques.
“Our goal is to harness the tremendous healing potential of these cells to minimize pain and discomfort for our patients,” added Lee.
MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – American Red Cross, serving Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties, is offering nurse assistant training in both Ukiah and Fort Bragg this August.
Nurse assistant training teaches participants to provide basic nursing skills for residents in nursing homes.
Upon successful completion of the course, participants are eligible to take the California state exam to become a Certified Nurse Assistant.
This course is approved by the California Department of Consumer Affairs and Department of Public Health.
Red Cross has found that most participants find work quickly, or continue their education in the medical field. In the current economic climate, that fact has made these classes extremely popular.
The course is 160 hours. The course fee of $1,395 includes all books, materials and Adult CPR class, but does not include the state certification fee.
Fees for Nurse Assistant Training, CPR, First Aid, or other classes from the local Red Cross help families who've just lost their homes,assistant members of the armed forces and their families, and help the community get prepared and stay safe.
There are several requirements for enrollment, with all forms available on the local Red Cross web site at http://arcsm.org/Nursing.php.
Requirements are:
Enrollment Form and $250.00 non-refundable deposit.
Physical exam by physician or nurse practitioner (within 1 year prior to class start date).
Tuberculosis screening within six months prior to class start date.
In order to pre-register, which is required, prospective students should visit http://arcsm.org/Nursing.php, then download the New Student Information Packet and return the required forms listed, along with their deposit.
Or they may contact Rosiris Guerra, health and safety director, at
UKIAH TRAINING
Nurse Assistant Training in Ukiah runs from Aug. 1 through Sept. 27.
The class and clinical practice run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with a mandatory orientation on July 27 at 10 a.m.
The orientation and class are held at 2240 Old River Road, classroom DE, at the Mendocino County Office of Education. Preregistration is required.
FORT BRAGG TRAINING
Nurse Assistant Training in Fort Bragg runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 29. The class and clinical practice run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a mandatory orientation on Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. The orientation and class are held at 300 A Dana Street. Preregistration is required.
American Red Cross, serving Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties, is a neutral, humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disasters, and prepares people to prevent and respond to emergencies. Like all Red Cross chapters, the local chapter is self-sustaining and is funded by local contributions.
All assistance to disaster victims and to members of the armed forces provided by the Chapter is free and made possible by voluntary donations of time and money by the people of Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties.
Donations can be made at www.arcsm.org, www.redcross.org, via mail to American Red Cross, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, or by phone at 707-577-7600 (Sonoma County), 707-463-0112 (Mendocino County), and 707-263-8451 (Lake County).
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the availability of $10 million to establish and evaluate comprehensive workplace health promotion programs across the nation to improve the health of American workers and their families.
The initiative, with funds from the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, is aimed at improving workplace environments so that they support healthy lifestyles and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.
“Spiraling health care costs and declines in worker productivity due to poor health are eroding the bottom line of American businesses,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “This new initiative will help companies of all sizes implement strategies to improve employee health and contain health costs driven largely by chronic diseases.”
Funds will be awarded through a competitive contract to an organization with the expertise and capacity to work with groups of employers across the nation to develop and expand workplace health programs in small and large worksites. Participating companies will educate employees about good health practices and establish work environments that promote physical activity and proper nutrition and discourage tobacco use—the key lifestyle behaviors that reduce employees’ risk for chronic disease.
“This is an exciting opportunity to help employers deliver effective workplace health programs on a national scale,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of HHS’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which oversees the initiative. “The promise of this strategy is a win-win: workers will be healthier and more productive, and companies will be more profitable.
Project funds will support evidence-based initiatives to build worksite capacity and improve workplace culture in support of health.
Examples of such strategies include establishing tobacco-free campus policies, promoting flextime to allow employees to be more physically active, and offering more healthy food choices in worksite cafeterias and vending machines.
A core principle of the initiative is to maximize employee engagement in designing and implementing the programs so they have the greatest chances of success.
Other initiatives put forth by the Obama Administration to promote prevention include the President’s Childhood Obesity Task Force and the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative aimed at combating childhood obesity, as well as the National Prevention Council, which is charged with designing and implementing a National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy.
Organizations interested in submitting proposals for the Comprehensive Health Programs to Address Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Use in the Workplace can find more information at www.fbo.gov.
The application deadline is Aug. 8.
A separate funding opportunity is available for a national evaluation of the initiative and can also be found at www.fbo.gov.