Health
WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), who served eight years as California’s Insurance Commissioner, voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) Reauthorization Act of 2015.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 392-37. President Obama has said he would sign the legislation.
It is supported by a broad coalition of advocacy groups.
“Today, we came together, not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans, to uphold our obligation to society’s most vulnerable citizens, including our seniors, children in lower-income families, and Americans who live in rural underserved communities,” said Garamendi.
“This bipartisan bill ensures seniors’ access to their doctors. H.R. 2 replaces a broken Medicare payment formula that routinely threatened seniors’ ability to see their doctors with a new formula that provides certainty for seniors and Medicare physicians. This improved Medicare formula rewards value in health care delivery, ensures accuracy of payments, and improves quality of care.
“After a lifetime of work, seniors should have affordable health care. That is why this bill will permanently extend the Qualifying Individual program, which helps low-income seniors pay their Medicare Part B premiums.
“The Children’s Health Insurance Program provides health coverage to more than eight million children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but are unable to afford health insurance. H.R. 2 would extend funding for this vital program for two years. The legislation would be also renew funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program.
“Americans living in rural communities face significant challenges in accessing medical care. As a state legislator, I authored a law to extend health care services to more than a million rural Californians. H.R. 2 secures critical funding for community health centers over the next two years, expanding a crucial investment in rural and other underserved communities. The bill would also extend for two years the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides funding for counties near national forests, including Colusa, Lake, and Glenn counties.
“As the principal author of welfare reform in California, I am proud to announce that H.R. 2 would permanently extend the Transitional Medical Assistance program, which helps families on Medicaid maintain their coverage for one year as they transition from welfare to work.
“I urge the Senate to pass this legislation without delay. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act is a solid bipartisan compromise that strengthens our health care system so it can better serve the American people,” Garamendi concluded.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Citing Health Rankings by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that show Lake County coming in last place in California for health outcomes, officials at Adventist Health and St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake (SHCL) are getting serious about addressing the issue of Lake County’s low health ratings.
To that end, a new community wellness director position has been created and filled.
Shelly Mascari joined St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake in this new role on March 16.
Mascari, who has lived in Lake County for the past decade, has worked as communications director for the Lake County Office of Education for the last seven of them.
She also developed and launched The Hero Project, a parenting program that has gained momentum over the past year, focused on supporting parents in making their children the top priority, thereby improving school readiness and child health and wellness.
“Shelly has demonstrated a commitment and a passion for improving outcomes for Lake County citizens. Her strong relationships with individuals and agencies throughout the County will benefit our organization as we seek to support and inspire transformation that leads to improved health and wellness for all of our citizens,” said David Santos, CEO for St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.
Tie this new position into the introduction of the hospital’s new Employee Wellness Center and experienced wellness coach, Lara Keyser, and you begin to see a trend. The hospital’s goal is to get its community healthy and fit, starting from within.
“We want to encourage our own employees to make their health a top priority. We want to lead by example,” said Santos in describing these new additions to the hospital.
There is a bigger picture to all this wellness taking place at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. Soon, the hospital will be inviting the community to take part in fitness challenges and to track their progress with the support of their parent company, Adventist Health.
The first corporate challenge is to Adventist Health employees: a 10-day no-sugar diet with incentives built in through their optional “Engaged!” health insurance plan.
As one patient put it recently, “the exercise program at Live Well [St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s lifestyle and wellness program] has really helped me feel alive. After my workout I feel energized and happy. I’m getting stronger and in less pain.”
That’s the kind of outcome St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s leaders have in mind for all the residents of Lake County, patients or not.
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