Health Care - Observer News Group

Dr. Yamin Emphasizes The Importance Of Vaccines During The Holidays

by Stefi Mar | Nov 28, 2023 | Bakersfield, Health, Health Care, Local | 0

The holiday season is meant to bring cheer all around, not viruses. Dr. Zeba Yamin with Dignity Health Group Spoke with Kern Sol News about the importance of getting vaccinated, especially before the holidays.

Blue Shield Presents Medi-Cal Redetermination & Other Healthcare Information

by Stefi Mar | Nov 21, 2023 | Bakersfield, Features, Health Care, Local | 0

Blue Shield, alongside the community of Bakersfield, recently convened for a town hall meeting dedicated to championing the cause of wellness. On the afternoon of November 19, 2023, members from every corner of Bakersfield gathered at the Greater Harvest Christian Center on 5421 Aldrin Ct., uniting to shed light on the significance of healthcare and the myriad advantages that a comprehensive health plan, such as Blue Shield’s Covered California, can offer to families throughout the state.

‘Worse Than People Can Imagine’: Medicaid ‘Unwinding’ Breeds Chaos in States

by Stefi Mar | Nov 7, 2023 | Bakersfield, Features, Health Care, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

In California, staffing shortages at county agencies that administer Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, are making it more difficult for people to renew their coverage.

For People With Sickle Cell Disease, ERs Can Mean Life-Threatening Waits

by Stefi Mar | Nov 7, 2023 | Bakersfield, African Americans, Health Care, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

For people living with the disease, a sickle cell crisis can happen at any time. When it does, their rigid, sickle-shaped red blood cells become stuck in their blood vessels, blocking flow and causing extreme pain or breathing difficulties.

Affordable Care Act Premiums Rise, But Subsidies Protect Most Consumers

by Stefi Mar | Oct 31, 2023 | Bakersfield, Health Care, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

Premiums on the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange will increase in 2024, but the Biden-Harris Administration has pledged that generous subsidies will ensure that most consumers remain shielded from the rising costs. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the average monthly premium for the benchmark silver plan in 2024 will see a 4% increase in the 32 states participating in the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov. The uptick mirrors the increase seen in the previous year and marks a shift from the four consecutive years of premium declines that preceded it.

Medicaid Managed Care Organizations Face Scrutiny Over Prior Authorization Denials

by Stefi Mar | Oct 10, 2023 | Bakersfield, Health, Health Care, Los Angeles, Politics, State, Valleys | 0

A recent review of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) has revealed concerning trends in approving prior authorization requests for services. In 2019, MCOs denied one out of every eight requests for prior authorization of services, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). 

Californians Headed to HBCUs in the South Prepare for College Under Abortion Bans

by James Luckey | Sep 26, 2023 | Health, Health Care, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

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Social Security Overpays Billions to People, Many on Disability. Then It Demands the Money Back.

by James Luckey | Sep 25, 2023 | Health Care, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

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FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Amid Rising Cases and Hospitalizations

by Stefi Mar | Sep 12, 2023 | Bakersfield, COVID-19, Features, Health, Health Care, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech in response to the surge in cases and hospitalizations. Both manufacturers have reported that their vaccines demonstrate effectiveness against the currently dominant EG.5 strain in the United States.

Thousands of Black Californians Have Lost Their Health Insurance. Don’t Lose Yours.

by Stefi Mar | Aug 22, 2023 | Bakersfield, Features, Health Care, Los Angeles, State, Valleys | 0

Five percent of the 225,231 Californians who lost their Medi-Cal coverage in June were African American.

Doulas & Black Moms: Bridging the Gap Between Mental Treatment and Maternal Care

by Stefi Mar | Aug 22, 2023 | Bakersfield, Features, Health Care, Los Angeles, Valleys | 0

There is a growing body of evidence that disparities in medical treatment in the United States — compounded over centuries by the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow segregation and prevalence of anti-Black biases — have adversely affected the health of Black women in numerous ways, including the birthing process.

Amid Lack of Accountability for Bias in Maternity Care, a California Family Seeks Justice

by Stefi Mar | Aug 8, 2023 | Features, Health Care, Local, Los Angeles, State, Valleys | 0

Aniya was ready to leave. She was dressed in a fuzzy white onesie her mother had packed for her first trip home. Yet Aniya’s family had more questions than answers as they cradled the newborn out of the hospital, her mother’s body left behind.