Health
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Dentist Dr. Andy McCormick is helping his community during these difficult economic times by giving free emergency dental treatments in February.
The clinics will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 19.
The free dental treatments will be given at Dr. McCormick’s office, Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry, located at 855 Fountaingrove Parkway, Santa Rosa.
The Emergency Dental Treatment Day is designed to treat anyone – adult or child – for free who cannot afford dentistry.
“Anyone with a dental emergency or in need of a cleaning, who could not afford it, will be provided with emergency dental treatment at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis,” said Dr. McCormick, adding, “I would like to do my part as a dentist to help and hope others would join me in this effort by spreading the word.”
Details of Dr. Andy McCormick’s other community events can be found at http://santarosacadentist.com/ .
For more information call the office of Dr. Andy McCormick, 707-579-9993.
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On Thursday Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new funding opportunity for grants to help states continue their work to implement a key provision of the Affordable Care Act – Health Insurance Exchanges.
When the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2014, Health Insurance Exchanges will provide individuals and small businesses with a “one-stop shop” to find and compare affordable, high-quality health insurance options.
“States are moving forward, implementing the Affordable Care Act and making reform a reality,” said Sebelius. “These grants will help ensure states have the resources they need to establish exchanges and ensure Americans are no longer on their own when shopping for insurance.”
Health Insurance Exchanges will bring new transparency to the market so that consumers will be able to compare plans based on price and quality and will offer all Americans the same insurance choices members of Congress will have.
By increasing competition among insurance companies and allowing individuals and small businesses to band together to purchase insurance, Exchanges will also lower costs.
The Exchange establishment grants announced today recognize that states are making progress toward establishing Exchanges but doing so at different paces.
States that are moving ahead on a faster pace can apply for multi-year funding. States that are making progress in establishing their Exchange through a step-by-step approach can apply for funding for each project year.
Moving forward, states will have multiple opportunities to apply for funding as they progress through Exchange establishment. This process gives states maximum flexibility and ensures that states can move forward on their own timetables as they work to build an Exchange.
States can use the Exchange establishment grants for a number of different activities including conducting background research, consulting with stakeholders, making legislative and regulatory changes, governing the exchange, establishing information technology systems, conducting financial management and performing oversight and ensuring program integrity.
States are already taking their first steps toward 2014 when Health Insurance Exchanges will be operational.
For example, California signed first-in-the-nation legislation to implement a Health Insurance Exchange under the Affordable Care Act on September 30, 2010. Maryland’s Health Reform Coordinating Council has already carried out research to understand the state’s health insurance marketplace and health expenditures, as well as how to make health care costs and quality more transparent.
Colorado is holding regular community forums on issues around developing an Exchange, as well as conducting extensive research and economic analyses on the state’s health insurance market.
Many of those activities have been funded by the $49 million in Exchange planning grants awarded by HHS in July of 2010.
States applied to use those grants for a number of important planning activities including research to understand their insurance markets, efforts to obtain the legislative authority to create Exchanges, and steps to establishing the governing structures of Exchanges.
The Exchange establishment funding announcement can be found at www.Grants.gov by searching for CFDA number 93.525.
More information can be found at http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Mother-Wise program has received a grant from the foundation Jenny's Light.
Jenny Bankston had a good job, an advanced degree and a loving husband. She was normal by all accounts, and greeted pregnancy with her first child with the usual excitement and enthusiasm.
Bankston had a difficult pregnancy and was sick most of the time. After giving birth her life turned upside down as a result of a complicated birth followed by difficulties nursing Graham.
Ultimately, Jenny Bankston and her 7-week-old son, Graham, became tragic victims of postpartum depression when she ended both of their lives.
Although her actions were extreme, they remind us of the desperation postpartum depression can inflict. She suffered in silence until her experience became too much to bare. Treatment could have saved the lives of Bankston and her child if those around her were more alert to the symptoms.
Jenny’s Light was created by the family of Jenny and Graham Bankston to be a source of information, hope and inspiration.
It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of perinatal mood disorders in order to improve and save lives.
One of the ways the group accomplishes its mission is through grants for community organizations with similar goals.
To this end, Jenny’s Light has awarded Mother-Wise a grant for the specific purpose of supporting training seminars for companion volunteers and health professionals.
There are several factors that put women at higher risk for one or more of the afflictions of perinatal mood disorders. Two of which, isolation and financial hardship are often endemic to rural locations like Lake County, and many moms in our community fit into one or both of these categories.
Through their generous support of Mother-Wise, Jenny’s Light aims to ensure that these moms receive the information and support they need to prevent unnecessary suffering by moms and their families.
Mother-Wise is a postpartum depression prevention program serving mothers from all backgrounds in Lake County.
The volunteer-based initiative has been growing quickly since its inception in March 2010, and continually seeks volunteers for their companion program, as well as referrals for moms in need of support.
The next training for volunteer companions will be held Feb. 3-5 in Clearlake.
For more information on the training, or to find out how Mother-Wise provides support, please call Jaclyn Ley, Mother-Wise Program coordinator, at 707-349-1210.
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The meeting will start at 4:30 p.m. at the center's offices, 14130 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.
The gathering is for youth and teens ages 15-24.
Free bus passes are available for those who need a ride home after the meeting.
For more information call Janelle at 707-994-5486.
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