Stopgap bill to fund federal government includes 6-year CHIP extension Today, the U.S. Senate voted to end the federal shutdown and keep the government running temporarily for three weeks until February 8. This stopgap bill will give budget negotiators time to develop a final agreement on 2018 fiscal year spending. The House of Representatives is expected to adopt the Senate’s three-week stopgap bill. The bill also includes a six-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – an important program that serves nearly 2 million children and pregnant women in California, and more than 9 million nationwide. The California ... January 30, 2018 General Federal Legislation, Federal Legislative Advocacy, Maternal and Child Health, State Children's Health Insurance Program 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA urges swift action to renew Children's Health Insurance Program The California Medical Association (CMA) is urging Congress to reauthorize the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is set to expire on September 30, 2017. Although the 20-year-old program has historically had bipartisan support, there has been some concern that the CHIP reauthorization could get caught up in the partisan bickering surrounding other priority issues, including attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). CMA has urged Congress to reauthorize the program for at least five years at current funding levels to give states the stability to engage ... September 27, 2017 General Federal Legislation, Federal Legislative Advocacy, Maternal and Child Health, State Children's Health Insurance Program 0 0 Comment Read More »
Register now for November 16 webinar on prenatal vaccinations The California Immunization Coalition (CIC) invites health care providers to attend its November 16, 2016, educational webinar: Providing Strong and Reassuring Recommendations for Prenatal Vaccinations. Taking place from 12 to 1 p.m. PT, this free webinar will focus on immunization recommendations for pregnant women and best practices for improving immunization rates in this population. Attendees will learn tips and techniques for communicating with their patients about the benefits of prenatal vaccination against pertussis and influenza, as well as ways to improve vaccination rates in their own practices. To register, click ... November 8, 2016 General Maternal and Child Health, Public Health, Vaccination, Webinars, Women's Health, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
California to get federal funds to help identify and treat babies born with microcephaly The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it has awarded more than $16 million to 40 states and territories, including California, to establish, enhance and maintain information-gathering systems to rapidly detect microcephaly – a serious birth defect of the brain – and other adverse outcomes caused by Zika virus infection. According to the announcement, the California Department of Public Health will receive $720,000. The funding will help states and territories ensure that infants and their families are referred to appropriate health and social services. The awards will ... August 8, 2016 Awards, General Public Health, Zika Virus, Maternal and Child Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA publishes online Zika resource center for physicians On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international public health emergency as the spread of the Zika virus has moved into more than 20 countries in Latin America. This rare move by the WHO signals the seriousness of the outbreak and gives countries powerful new tools to fight it. The WHO is concerned about a possible link between Zika virus and microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with brain damage and unusually small heads. Reported cases of microcephaly have risen sharply in Brazil, where Zika ... February 3, 2016 General Maternal and Child Health, Public Health, American Medical Association, WHO, Zika Virus 0 0 Comment Read More »
IMQ offers free online training course on child abuse and neglect Over 1.5 million children in California suffer at least two instances of childhood abuse and neglect, according to a report by the nonprofit Children Now. There has also been a 3 percent increase in abuse nationally, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In an effort to prevent more childhood trauma, the California Medical Association's Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) is offering a free online course to help physicians recognize and report child abuse and neglect. This interactive course, approved for 1.25 continuing ... February 1, 2016 General Continuing Medical Education, Institute for Medical Quality, Maternal and Child Health, CME, IMQ 0 0 Comment Read More »
IMQ offers free online course to help providers identify child abuse Thanks to a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the California Medical Association’s Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) is offering a free course on child abuse prevention, recognition and reporting. The course is designed for California physicians, nurses and other health care professionals who regularly or occasionally treat pediatric patients. Physicians and other health care professionals are mandated by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect. This course, produced by the Child Abuse Prevention Center in Sacramento, will help providers understand their reporting obligations and how ... December 21, 2015 General Continuing Medical Education, IMQ, Maternal and Child Health, CME, Institute for Medical Quality 0 0 Comment Read More »
IMQ offers free online course on identifying and reporting child abuse The California Medical Association's Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) announced that it will offer free training on ways to recognize and report child abuse and neglect. This interactive online course was produced by the Child Abuse Prevention center in Sacramento and designed for physicians who, because of their training or their practice, may not be familiar with indications of child abuse. Nurses, social workers and other health care professionals can also benefit from the training, particularly because they often have more extensive contact with patients or families. IMQ has received ... June 2, 2015 General Institute for Medical Quality, Maternal and Child Health, Reporting Abuse/Violence, Continuing Medical Education 0 0 Comment Read More »
