Health
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- Written by: Office of Assemblyman Wes Chesbro
SACRAMENTO – First District Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) has introduced a bill, AB 2586, that would help protect and maintain access to health care by ensuring patients have full and complete information about their health care provider network.
“This bill will help the state crack down on health plans and insurers that promise consumers a fully staffed physician network, but instead give them a phantom network with insufficient providers and misleading provider directories,” Chesbro said.
“Some of these provider directories even include names of physicians who are deceased, retired or no longer practicing in the state,” he said.
The most recent and egregious example is Anthem Blue Cross’ attempt to force new and unfair contracts on Healthy Families providers in Humboldt County, according to Chesbro.
This “recontracting initiative” gave physicians no choice but to sever their relationships with Blue Cross, which left children enrolled in Healthy Families with no access to medically necessary care other than the emergency room
“AB 2586 will also require health plans and insurers to get approval from regulators before narrowing or modifying its provider network through re-contracting schemes,” he said. “And they will be required to notify affected enrollees and providers before terminating contracts and narrowing networks.”
If it becomes law, AB 2586 will require:
HMOs and health insurers to make sure that provider directories are accurate and up-to-date.
That the state Department of Managed Healthcare and the Department of Insurance review the adequacy of physician networks, accessibility by geography and physician-to-patient ratios every time it conducts an on-site survey. Currently, these criteria are only reviewed once, when the plan is initially licensed.
“Lack of access to care in many regions of California is a serious problem because some health plans don’t provide big enough networks of physicians for their patients,” said Dr. Luther Cobb, a surgeon at Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata and on staff at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. “AB 2586 will put a stop to this and give regulators more effective ways to regularly monitor the availability of health coverage in local markets.”
Dr. Cobb is a member of the California Medical Association’s (CMA) Executive Committee. The CMA is sponsoring AB 2586.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY – Lake Family Resource Center is offering the American Lung Association “Freedom from Smoking” tobacco cessation program beginning Feb. 12 in Clearlake and on Feb. 23 in Kelseyville.
“Freedom from Smoking”, the leading smoking cessation program in the United States for over 25 years, shows participants how to quit smoking for good in a supportive setting.
Participants meet weekly in small groups so everyone attending gets personal attention.
No two smokers are alike; the program helps everyone create their own quit plan. Because support of others is important while quitting, participating with a group who understands the challenges helps at a time when support is most needed.
Spring is a great time to make changes in your life and you’ll be more successful at quitting smoking by being with other people who have decided to quit smoking, too.
The Clearlake classes will take place at LakeFRC, 14264 Austin Drive (across from Burns Valley School), from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Kelseyville classes will take place at LakeFRC, 4325 Main St., from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Both programs run seven weeks, with two classes during “Quit Week.”
The program is FREE and includes all program materials and refreshments.
For more information and to register for the classes call Glenn Koeppel or Joy Swetnam, Lake Family Resource Center, at 707-279-0563 or email
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- Written by: Dr. Paula Dhanda
Many women are embarrassed to talk about this condition and do not seek help.
Symptoms of prolapse vary but may include:
Pressure or discomfort in the vaginal area;
A sensation of sitting on a ball;
Feeling or seeing a bulge or ball-like structure protruding from the vaginal area;
Difficulty urinating;
Having to strain for bowel movements;
Worsening discomfort at the end of the day or after long periods of standing;
Urinary incontinence especially with coughing, laughing, sneezing or exercising.
Weakening of the pelvic floor causes prolapse. There are many causes for this including childbirth, prolonged heavy lifting, hysterectomy, chronic lung conditions such as asthma or emphysema and being overweight. The prolapse often gets worse after menopause.
There are medical and surgical treatment options available for this condition. Non-surgical treatment methods include lifestyle changes, a vaginal pessary and exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles. There are physical therapists who have special training in this area and women with mild to moderate prolapse often have significant improvement in their symptoms.
There are no medications to treat vaginal prolapse. There are also new minimally invasive surgical procedures available for women who have prolapse that does not improve with conservative treatment or whose prolapse is severe.
I have been performing surgery for prolapse and urinary incontinence for over 20 years and I am amazed at how much better and less invasive the surgical treatments have become.
Prolapse repair surgery returns organs to a more normal anatomical position. Because the surgery is less invasive I can also offer these procedures to women who are older or have medical problems that put them at risk for more major operations.
Many surgeons now use mesh in the surgical correction of prolapse. These mesh repairs can be done with smaller incisions and can reduce the risk of recurrence.
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery are:
Less pain post operatively;
Faster recovery than traditional open abdominal prolapse surgery options;
Shorter hospital stay (often less than 24 hours);
Quicker return to normal activities including work.
One female patient noted, “I feel 100-percent better since my surgery. Dr. Dhanda is a great surgeon.”
If you suffer from pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence you are not alone. Do not be embarrassed to talk to your doctor and ask for help. Take control of your health.
For more information visit www.drspecialtycare.com .
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- Written by: Editor
The Wellness Center is pleased to welcome acupressurist Richard Diwald to its Integrative Healing House team. Diwald’s specialty is acupressure that combines Jin Shin and Tui Na styles.
“My personal experience with the combination of Tui Na and Jin Shin acupressure is that it promotes a state of deep relaxation, enabling curative energies to work,” said Diwald.
The combination of styles uses fingertip pressure held on acupressure points mixed with a vigorous yet subtle Chinese massage that uses a variety of hand movements to increase blood circulation.
“The combination of light brush strokes, pressure point release and massage while fully clothed left me feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated,” said a recent client.
Acupressure massage is an effective way to treat physical pain in a natural way that allows the body to heal itself. By releasing muscle tension and unblocking energy pathways, the body can restore its equilibrium and health.
Diwald is taking day, evening and weekend appointments at the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Integrative Healing House, located to the East of the main hospital building, adjacent to the Wellness Center.
Call 707-262-5171 to make an appointment.
For more information on all of the services available at the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Healing House, please visit our web site at www.sutterlakeside.org .
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