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El Dorado County Health Digest



Lake Tahoe Beaches Reopen After Sewage Spill

07/25/2024

One Beach and Patton Landing Beach have reopened to the public. Water analysis continues.

CA Indoor Heat Rule Put on Fast Track

07/25/2024

After years of delay, a new California regulation to protect indoor workers from extreme heat is now in effect.

West Nile Cases in Yuba and Stanislaus Counties

07/24/2024

The first two human cases of West Nile virus this season were reported in Yuba and Stanislaus Counties.

20th Annual Skate the Lake Benefit a Success

07/23/2024

185 participants joined organizers Boarding for Breast Cancer on July 20 and 21, raising $70,000 for breast cancer research.

California Sent a Mentally Ill Man to a State Hospital. Then It Charged Him $760,000

07/17/2024

California State Hospitals can bill patients for the care they receive during confinement. The charges often run in the tens of thousands of dollars, putting vulnerable people in debt for years.

Can California’s Health Care Providers Help Solve the State’s Homelessness Crisis?

07/10/2024

Taking advantage of new state funds, some California healthcare providers are starting to offer what their homeless patients really need: housing.

Drinking Water of Almost a Million Californians Failed to Meet State Requirements

06/25/2024

Almost 400 suppliers, two-thirds in communities of color, don’t meet safety and reliability standards. Fixing them would cost billions.

‘Total System Breakdown’: California Firefighters With PTSD Face a Workers’ Comp Nightmare

06/25/2024

Even when suicidal, California firefighters struggle to find medical help and navigate the workers’ comp morass to pay for it.

City Council Votes to Distribute Cannabis Revenue to Local Nonprofits

06/18/2024

In their June 18 meeting, the South Lake Tahoe approved distribution of over $400,000 in cannabis tax revenue to local nonprofits.

El Dorado County Needle Exchange Ban Halted By Judge

06/14/2024

A June 14 ruling by an El Dorado County Superior Court judge has placed a stay on the ban on needle exchange services in the county while a state lawsuit proceeds.

The California Maternity Wards That Are Staying Open

06/06/2024

Over the last decade, nearly 50 maternity wards have closed across California, with more than half shutting down in just the last four years.

Why CA Families Are Getting a Tax Surprise for Health Care

06/04/2024

For families seeking affordable health insurance, the state’s health insurance marketplace, Covered California, can provide major relief. But if they’re not careful, they can get hit by an unexpected federal tax bill.

Rattlesnake Season is Back

05/07/2024

Expert advice on staying safe during rattlesnake season.

8,000-Unit Housing Development Proposed

05/01/2024

UC Davis researchers are joining a developer to build a "healthy living" community of thousands of homes on 2,800 acres near Latrobe Road.

Bill Would Allow Arizona Abortion Providers to Practice in California Temporarily

04/24/2024

Newsom-backed bill would allow Arizona abortion providers to practice in California as the Republican-led state restricts access.

Cannabis Revenues Grant Applications Open

04/23/2024

The City of South Lake Tahoe is accepting applications until May 15 for grants funded from cannabis revenues for local projects which mitigate the impact of the cannabis industry.

Newsom Calls Out Republican Abortion Policies in New Ad Running in Alabama

04/21/2024

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new ad blasts GOP efforts to make it harder for people to leave states with abortion bans and seek treatment elsewhere.

California Sets Nation’s First Water Standard for Cancer-Causing Contaminant

04/17/2024

Water suppliers say the costs will be massive, with rates increasing for many consumers. Known as the “Erin Brockovich” chemical, hexavalent chromium is found statewide.

In San Francisco’s Chinatown, a CEO Works With the Community to Bolster Hospital

04/16/2024

Chinese Hospital, located in the heart of this city's legendary Chinatown, struggles with many of the same financial and demographic challenges that plague small independent hospitals in underserved areas across the country.

We Must Take Better Care of Our Home-Based Child Care Providers

04/09/2024

These professionals provide essential services, but their pay and working conditions do not reflect their value, and their health suffers.

Tahoe Prosperity Researching Economic Drivers

04/06/2024

The Tahoe Prosperity Center is calling for submissions to its Project Inventory Form of projects driving innovation in sectors such as Environmental Innovation, Health and Wellness, Outdoor/Sustainable Recreation and others.

Homeless Infants and Toddlers Largely Unenrolled in Early Ed Programs

03/28/2024

Evictions have exacerbated homelessness nationwide, increasing the rate of homeless infants and toddlers. Most of those children are not enrolled in early education programs.

Your Doctor or Your Insurer? Little-Known Rules May Ease the Choice in Medicare Advantage

03/28/2024

Disputes between insurers and providers can lead to entire hospital systems suddenly leaving the plans.

California’s Disabled Students Left Behind During Emergencies: ‘They Just Weren’t Ready for Someone Like Me’

03/27/2024

After bringing his story all the way to the University of California Board of Regents, a disabled UC Berkeley student has prompted the UC to ensure emergency evacuation chairs are in every multi-storied building in the 10-university system.

At Stake in Mifepristone Case: Abortion, FDA’s Authority, and Return to 1873 Obscenity Law

03/25/2024

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit of an urgent priority: shutting down access to abortion pills for women across the country.

Mountain Lion Attack Update and Fundraiser

03/25/2024

The family of two men attacked by a mountain lion in El Dorado County released an update of the survivor and fundraising details for those who wish to contribute to funeral and medical costs.

Placerville and El Dorado County Pass Bans on New Tobacco Shops

03/20/2024

The Placerville City Council and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors both pass edprohibitions on new tobacco shops citing concerns around an increase in tobacco use by middle schoolers.

California Attorney General Boosts Bill Banning Medical Debt From Credit Reports

03/10/2024

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday that he is throwing his weight behind legislation to bar medical debt from showing up on consumer credit reports, a Democratic-led effort to offer protection to patients squeezed by health care bills.

San Francisco Voters Pass Police & Drug Ballot Measures

03/08/2024

Proposition E broadens police surveillance powers and Proposition F mandates drug screening and treatment for people receiving county welfare benefits who are suspected of drug use.

Study Finds Almost 50% of San Francisco Drug Users Not Residents

03/01/2024

A report of a 12 month study which ended in February indicates almost half of those cited for drug usage were not residents of the city, leading to questions about city approaches to drug addiction.

Antidepressant Prescriptions to Young People Surged During the Pandemic

02/27/2024

The monthly rate of antidepressants being dispensed to young people increased about 64% more quickly during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

California Hospitals, Advocates Seek Stable Funding to Retain Behavioral Health Navigators

02/26/2024

Health providers and addiction experts warn the funding structure is unstable for a California initiative that steers patients with substance use disorder into long-term treatment.

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