Latest news with #DepartmentofPublicHealth
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Federal cuts leave Los Angeles County health system in crisis
Los Angeles County's health system, which is responsible for the care of the region's poorest, is careening toward a financial crisis because of cuts from a presidential administration and Republican-led Congress looking to drastically slash the size of government. President Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' which passed earlier this month, is expected to soon claw $750 million per year from the county Department of Health Services, which oversees four public hospitals and roughly two dozen clinics. In an all-staff email Friday, the agency called the bill a 'big, devastating blow to our health system' and said a hiring freeze had gone into effect, immediately. And the Trump administration's budget for the next fiscal year will likely result in a $200-million cut to the county Department of Public Health, whose responsibilities include monitoring disease outbreaks, inspecting food and providing substance use treatment. 'I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I'm not going to say we survive this,' said Barbara Ferrer, head of the public health department, in an interview. 'We can't survive this big a cut.' Both Ferrer and Department of Health Services head Christina Ghaly warned that the federal cuts will devastate their agencies — and the patients they serve — for years to come. Employee layoffs are likely. In April, the White House announced it was ending infectious disease grants worth billions of dollars, including $45 million that L.A. County was supposed to use to combat the spread of measles and bird flu. California has joined other states in a lawsuit fighting the cuts, and the court has issued a preliminary injunction suspending the cuts. This month, the county public health department lost another $16 million after Trump's bill cut funding for a program educating food stamp recipients about how to buy healthy meals. And there's more to come. The Trump administration's proposed budget for 2026 will be the biggest blow yet, Ferrer warned, yanking $200 million from her department — a 12% cut. 'I'm old. I've been around for a long time,' said Ferrer, whose work in public health dates back to the Reagan administration. 'I've never actually seen this much disdain for public health.' Ferrer said the cuts mean she no longer has enough money for the county's bioterrorism watch program, which monitors for outbreaks that might signal a biological attack. Soon, she said, county officials may have to stop testing ocean water for toxins year round, cutting back to just half the year. 'Like, you want to swim? You want to know that the water is safe where you swim, then oppose these kinds of cuts,' she said. 'That affects everybody who goes to the beach.' Layoffs are likely, said Ferrer. About 1,500 public health staffers are supported through federal grants. More than half the federal money the department receives is funneled to outside organizations, which would likely need to make cuts to stay afloat. A similarly grim cost analysis is underway at the county Department of Health Services, where executives said they expect to lose $280 million this fiscal year because of the bill. 'I can't make a promise that we will be able to avoid layoffs because of the magnitude of the challenges,' said Ghaly. Ghaly said the bill slashed the extra Medicaid money the county typically gets to cover care for low-income patients. They expect many patients might be kicked off Medicaid because of new eligibility and work requirements. The federal government is pulling back on payments for emergency services for undocumented people, meaning the county will have to foot more of the bill. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Department of Health Services officials said they expect to lose $750 million per year by 2028. By then, the agency's budget deficit is projected to have ballooned to $1.85 billion. In an attempt to pump more cash into the system, L.A. County supervisors voted on Tuesday to increase a parcel tax first approved by voters in 2002, which is expected to raise an additional $87 million for the county's trauma care network. After a long debate Tuesday, Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Lindsey Horvath worked to direct $9 million of the parcel tax money to Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, a private hospital that serves as a critical safety net for South Los Angeles residents who would otherwise find themselves in a medical desert. Without that cash infusion from the county, the cuts in Trump's bill would have put the hospital at risk of closing, since the majority of patients in its emergency room are on Medicaid, said Elaine Batchlor, Martin Luther King's chief executive officer. 'If they've lost their Medicaid coverage, we simply won't get paid for those patients,' she said. Martin Luther King replaced a county hospital that closed after losing national accreditation in 2005 because of serious medical malpractice, landing it the nickname 'Killer King.' 'The fact that that hospital closed in the first place I think is criminal, and I intend to do all I can to protect the integrity of the services,' said Mitchell, whose district includes the hospital and who pushed for it to get a cut of money from the parcel tax increase. Local health providers said that changes at the state level have created additional uncertainty. The state budget for this fiscal year freezes enrollment in Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid, for undocumented immigrants ages 19 and older starting in January. Medi-Cal recipients ages 19 to 59 will have to pay a $30 monthly premium beginning July 1, 2027. 'Most families [we serve] are making about $2,400 to $2,600 a month. They're going to have to choose between paying their Medi-Cal fees for a family of four — that's $120 a month — or paying rent or paying for food,' said Jim Mangia, head of St. John's Community Health, who said the cuts will disrupt care for tens of thousands of low-income residents. The St. John's clinic, which gets most of its revenue from Medi-Cal reimbursements, serves more than 120,000 patients a year, most of whom live below the federal poverty line. If the clinic doesn't find a way to replace the lost revenue, Mangia warned, services will have to be reduced. The clinic recently started treating immigrant patients in their homes after realizing they had been skipping appointments because they feared being arrested by federal immigration agents. 'Then what we're looking at is closing several health centers,' said Mangia. 'We're looking at laying off hundreds of staff.' At Venice Family Clinic, a community health center that serves nearly 45,000 patients annually, 80% of patients rely on Medi-Cal. Roughly half the clinic's revenue comes from Medi-Cal reimbursements. Dr. Mitesh Popat, a family physician and head of the clinic, said that federal policy changes — especially more frequent paperwork and added work requirements — will likely push eligible patients off of Medi-Cal. He said the clinic is exploring ways to expand support for patients to navigate the paperwork and keep their coverage. 'This puts a bunch of barriers in the way of people who already have enough challenges in life,' Popat said. 'They're trying to make it, trying to survive, trying to put food on the table.'
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
Mass. to require info on fire and emergency protocols from hundreds of assisted living homes in the wake of fatal Fall River fire
'What happened in Fall River is a horrible tragedy,' Healey said. 'This is a moment to make sure that every assisted living residence is prepared to respond to emergencies and to protect the safety of their residents.' The homes must also send letters to residents and their families within the next five days that explain fire safety protocols, evacuation procedures and key points of contact for questions or concerns and post evacuation information in all units and common areas. The fire at the Fall River home, Gabriel House, is still under investigation. About 70 people lived in the home, which served a lower income population. More than 75 percent of the residents there were enrolled in MassHealth. Families of residents described the home as poorly maintained and unclean. Workers said the home didn't conduct fire drills or evacuation training. Advertisement More than 17,000 people in Massachusetts live in assisted living facilities, which provide some personal care support but not the complex medical care available at nursing homes. They are prized for the freedom and choice they offer, but increasingly care for people with significant mobility or cognitive limitations. They are far less regulated by the state than nursing facilities. AGE, which oversees these residences, re-certifies assisted living homes every two years. The Department of Public Health, by contrast, inspects nursing homes every nine to 15 months. Advocates for seniors and some politicians have demanded more robust state oversight over assisted living homes since the fire. 'I think we need to be far more stringent with regulations in this industry, and I thought that long before this fire,' said state Senator Mark Montigny, a New Bedford Democrat, during a meeting Tuesday of a state commission tasked with rethinking state oversight of the industry. 'I only hope that this fire will serve to do what we should have done ten years ago.' Jason Laughlin can be reached at
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Runners, you need to read this — study suggests a simple training tip could be the key to avoiding injury
A new study from Aarhus University has thrown into doubt everything we know about running injuries, suggesting that the most common cause of them is going too far on a single run. Most injuries are caused suddenly by a single workout where you run too far compared to your normal distance. Until now the most common advice for runners looking to avoid injuries was to gradually increase your overall training load each week. This advice is built into the best running watches, which monitor your acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) training load to ensure they are balanced and you're not pushing too hard compared to what your body is able to handle. However, research done on 5,200 runners found that most injuries don't develop over time because you're exceeding a suggested weekly training load, but are caused suddenly by a single workout where you run too far compared to your normal distance. The study found that the risk of injury grew when you ran more than 10% further than your longest run from the past 30 days. If you ran 10-30% further than your longest run in the last 30 days, the injury risk increased by 64%. If you ran 10-30% further than your longest run in the last 30 days, the injury risk increased by 64%. The risk of injury increases by 52% if you run 30-100% further than your longest run from the past 30 days, which is interestingly smaller compared to the risk from a 10-30% increase in distance. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Unsurprisingly, if you increase the distance of your run by over 100% compared with your longest run from the last 30 days, it poses the biggest risk of injury, with a 128% increase. The takeaways from this study are refreshingly simple — don't go too far on a single run. If your longest run in the last 30 days was five miles, then don't suddenly run 10 miles; build up to that distance carefully. This does tie-in with the advice on training load you get from running watches in some ways, as avoiding big increases in training load each week will usually help to keep the length of your longest runs down. The lead author on the study, Associate Professor Rasmus Ø. Nielsen from the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University, suggests that watches could use the advice from the research to create new features to help users. "I imagine, for example, that sports watches with our algorithm will be able to guide runners in real-time during a run and give an alarm if they run a distance where injury risk is high,' says Nielsen. 'Like a traffic light that gives green light if injury risk is low; yellow light if injury risk increases and red light when injury risk becomes high.' This advice is particularly important for those marathon training, who might well suddenly start doing very long runs to prepare for the 26.2-mile event. Give yourself time to build-up to those 20-milers if you can. Hoka has announced a limited-edition collaboration with Australian cycling brand, MAAP, merging the world of running and cycling in a version of the Tecton X2. Built for the trails, the Tecton X2 has a carbon fibre plate for a faster heel-toe transition on all terrains. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
What is an assisted living facility — and how does it differ from a nursing home?
What is an assisted living facility and how is it different from a nursing home? Assisted living residences are nonmedical facilities that provide older adults with housing, meals, and support for daily activities like dressing, bathing, and medication. They promote independence while offering a safety net of care. '[Assisted living] is often the next logical step in the continuum of care for adults who don't need complex medical treatment but would benefit from daily support in a setting that values independence, freedom of choice, and quality of life,' said Brian Doherty, president and CEO of Massachusetts Assisted Living. 'Assisted living also provides structure and support for individuals with cognitive impairment, memory loss, or Alzheimer's disease through specialized memory care units.' Unlike nursing homes, which provide round-the-clock care for individuals with significant medical needs, assisted living residences offer a more homelike environment. Residents typically live in private or semiprivate apartments and receive help with activities of daily living — such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and mobility. Advertisement Nursing homes are licensed and inspected by the state Department of Public Health. Assisted living residences are certified by the Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE), which does not require the same level of clinical staffing or oversight. Advertisement '[Assisted living residences are] very loosely regulated,' said Malka Young, an aging consultant and director of Allies in Aging JFS Elder Care Solutions. Young says each facility varies by the level of care that's needed. The care involves one wellness nurse, which can only provide first aid. 'The one nurse is responsible for the well being of each person in the community. They can't give injections, they can't take blood pressure, so there's not really any medical services,' she explained. What are the different types of aging services? Managed long-term care programs include: Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly ( Senior Care Options ( Aside from aging at home, options for long-term care include: Senior housing (includes public, privately-owned subsidized, and congregate and supportive housing) Continuing Care Retirement Communities are sometimes known as a life plan community, where independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care are offered. Assisted living residences provide meals, housekeeping, and help with personal care, but charge separately for additional services like medication management or assistance with bathing and memory care. Rest Homes / Residential Care Facilities are considered a healthcare facility, though they offer basic care, not skilled nursing, and are often included in MassHealth coverage. Nursing/skilled-nursing and rehabilitation facilities operate under a medical model, offering care typically covered by Medicaid or long-term care insurance and could include memory care units. How much does it cost — and who pays? The average monthly cost for assisted living in Massachusetts is nearly $10,000, or $300 a day, depending on location, room type and level of care, according to 'Each person is given an individual care plan, and sometimes you have up to one hour of care and if you need help with your medications, then that's an additional fee,' Young said. Nursing homes are more expensive, often exceeding $13,000 per month, but may be partially covered by Medicaid if the resident qualifies financially. Health insurance only covers assisted living facilities if someone has long term care insurance. 'I'll have couples come to me and they'll have a million dollars, and they think they have a lot of money, but that's really not a lot of money if someone's in their late 70s or even early 80s,' Young said. Related : Advertisement Gabriel House served a high number of low-income seniors. More than 75 percent of its residents are enrolled in Medicaid, state officials have said, and it charges significantly less than a typical assisted living facility does for private-paying patients. Built in 1964, Gabriel House had been the subject of several complaints from family members about living conditions, the Globe Subsidies also depend on potential tax credits, the median income of the community and what they offer . 'Gabriel House in Fall River was mainly for people who were on veterans benefits or MassHealth,' Young explained. 'But there's a subgroup of regular assisted livings that depended on how the building itself was financed, they're called tax credit units.' Robin Lipson, secretary of AGE, raised the possibility that facilities that heavily dependent on government housing or Medicaid payments, 'should be regulated or supported in a different way' from those that rely on private payers. Michelle Woodbrey, co-owner of 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors, serving families across New England, said assisted living facilities that support lower income seniors are rare to find and 'often don't provide high levels of care.' 'If you're on MassHealth and can't pay privately, a nursing home is typically your only option, and there are very few exceptions,' she said. Each year, Woodbrey said, more people are falling into a growing gap: they don't meet the high medical threshold for nursing home care, but can't afford assisted living or home care services. ' . . . someone can't just move into a nursing home because they're out of money. There's this group of people who fall between the cracks. Gabriel House served many of those people.' Advertisement How do you know that the one you've selected is high quality? Young suggests people consider how long staff has been there in a high-turnover job market, if there's an on-site chef , and what types of activities and length of stays are offered. 'Ask about the staff's education,' she advises. Also,some programs, will highlight they have a resident committee and they vote on what they want. Well, that means they don't have any staff or professional input.' Sarah Rahal can be reached at
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
Lunenburg goat is the state's first animal case of West Nile virus this year, state says
The state last week No human cases of West Nile virus have been detected yet this year, health officials said. In 2024, there were 19 confirmed human cases of the mosquito-borne virus reported in the state, and no animal cases. Advertisement 'With this evidence of an animal infected with West Nile virus, we know that there are the right conditions and enough disease circulating to result in a human infection,' Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement. 'The elevated temperatures combined with high humidity increase mosquito activity,' Goldstein's statement said. 'We want to remind people that there are easy ways to prevent mosquitoes from biting you, like using mosquito repellent when you are outdoors and being mindful of peak mosquito activity hours.' People of all ages can be infected by the virus, but people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease, health officials said. Most people who are infected will show no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they generally include fever and flu-like illness, the department's statement said. Advertisement 'Animals that live outdoors are at somewhat higher risk from arboviruses than humans who spend more time indoors,' state epidemiologist Catherine M. Brown said in the statement. 'The weather this summer is creating the opportunity for it to be a busy WNV season and it is important to take steps to prevent mosquito bites,' Brown said. People are urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites by staying indoors during peak biting times in the early mornings and evenings, or by using insect repellents containing EPA-registered ingredients, or by applying oil of lemon eucalyptus. To protect animals, owners should eliminate standing water from containers, buckets, tires, wading pools, and water troughs. 'Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas,' health officials said. Horse owners are advised to keep their animals in indoor stalls at night to reduce risk of exposure, and to check with their veterinarians about mosquito repellents approved for animal use. Eastern Equine Encephalitis, another mosquito-borne illness, has not yet been detected this season, according to the Department of Public Health. Last year, there were four human and three animal cases confirmed in the state. If an animal is suspected of infection, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health at 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800. More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800. Advertisement Tonya Alanez can be reached at
