Budget cuts may force California child health insurance premiums onto parents

June 1, 2009

Parents who have been taking advantage of California child health insurance programs that lowered costs may have to look to the capitol in Washington DC for help: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is still facing a $24.3 billion budget deficit and says that health care coverage to less-than-affluent children may have to be cut to make up some of the difference.

For children whose parents make a combined $22,000 to $55,125 and were normally covered by the state's Healthy Families program, Schwarzenegger announced that he would try to save $305 million by cutting their coverage, a process that would take away in turn roughly $600 million more in federal matching funds, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Other health care cuts in the state budget helped to bring the total to $2 billion, out of a total $14.3 billion still facing the state after cuts made earlier in the year. Other programs that may be cut based on a vote in the legislature include funds for treatment of breast and cervical cancer, as well as counseling and testing programs for HIV, according to the Redding Record Spotlight.

"We're working very hard to find other alternatives, but if you're a free-standing rural health clinic today I don't see surviving these times," Cathy Larsen, CEO of Southern Trinity Health Services told the news provider. "We're not only going to have jobs and services lost, but we're going to be losing federal dollars coming into the state, which will just mean the loss of more jobs."

Just over the border, many Americans are finding that they can afford to get prescriptions in towns like Tijuana, in spite of turbulent drug-related warfare and the recent swine flue scare, according to UCLA researchers who estimate that just under 1 million Californians cross the border each year for health insurance, primarily Mexican emigrants who cross back over.

While legislative officials may not all be on board with the cuts, some told the Sacramento Bee that the state can't afford the benefits it provides, and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore said, "When you have an unemployment as high as it is in this state, it should be a signal to people to look for jobs in other states with more jobs and a lower cost of living."

Working with health insurers that offer California child health insurance plans could save money for some families, including ones where a child may have autism. One provider of autism spectrum disorder services, Wellspring, is offering a seminar on June 11 in Burbank to show families how they can get coverage through their current insurer, without worrying about further state budget cuts.

Calfornia Child Health Insurance News provided by healthinsurancefinders.com

Laugh Your Way To Health

Friday, May 22, 2009 by: Cindie Leonard, citizen journalist
(NaturalNews)


In Jimmy Buffett's famous song, "Changes in Latitudes," a key line in the chorus is: "If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane." This verse in this fun and somewhat philosophical song is supported by scientific research. Our mental health is positively enhanced by laughter.


Using laughter as medicine is not a new concept. As early as the 14th Century, French surgeon Henri de Mondeville used humor therapy to aid recovery from surgery. He wrote: "Let the surgeon take care to regulate the whole regimen of the patient's life for joy and happiness, allowing his relatives and special friends to cheer him and by having someone tell him jokes."

In the 1930s U.S. hospitals began to bring in clowns to cheer children hospitalized with polio. In 1972, the Gesundheit Institute (of Patch Adams fame) was founded to bring "fun, friendship, and the joy of service back into health care."

Norman Cousins calls laughter "internal jogging." Cousins had been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, an experience that had led him to question Western medicine. Cousins found the treatments suggested by his doctors to be totally lacking, so he checked himself out of the hospital and checked into a hotel. From here on, he literally laughed himself back to health. He immersed himself in only funny movies and television shows. He enjoyed every one of the Charlie Chaplin movies, and watched "Candid Camera" episodes until his sides hurt, laughing. His illness disappeared. From this experience, he wrote an enlightening book, "Anatomy of an Illness."

Even the Bible suggests that we keep a happy heart: "A cheerful heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit makes one sick." Proverbs 17:22

Solid scientific research demonstrates that laughter offers the following benefits:

Lowering blood pressure

Strengthening cardiovascular functions

Reducing stress hormones

Improving circulation

Increasing muscle flexion

Oxygenating the body by boosting the respiratory system

Boosting immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies.

Triggering the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers

Producing a general sense of well-being.

Even anticipating laughter can enhance our biochemistry. In a novel experiment conducted at Loma Linda University, researchers studied a group of 16 healthy male volunteers. The participants were assigned to two groups. Blood was drawn from both groups four times during the event and three times afterward. The experiment group was told that they would be watching a humorous video. The control group was not. The findings were astounding. The experiment group showed not only a decrease in stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, and dopac,) but also an increase in beta-endorphins (chemicals that alleviate depression) and human growth hormone (which boosts immunity.)

Dr. Lee Berk, the team's lead researcher, sums up the study: "Our findings lead us to believe that by seeking out positive experiences that make us laugh we can do a lot with our physiology to stay well."

In an earlier study conducted by Dr. Berk and her team, the experimental group watched a humorous video. Blood samples were measured on both the experimental group (that watched the humorous video) and a control group (that did not watch the video.) The results were similar to the above experiment showing positive biochemical changes by those who watched the funny video. In addition, this study also demonstrated the positive physiological changes that occur after a session of laughter. Dr. Berk states: "The physiological effects of a single one-hour session viewing a humorous video appear to last anywhere from 12 to 24 hours in different individuals."

Interestingly, one can exercise both mind and body is a class called "laughter yoga." This trend has been active in India and China for years and is now part of a growing trend in the United States. The students are re-learning something children already know instinctively -- that laughter makes you feel better. Barb Fisher, a certified laughter yoga teacher, states that "kids laugh about 400 times a day, and adults only about 15...Laughter is a gift that has been given to us to make us feel better."

Laughter is proving to be a tool to protect ourselves from heart disease. Dr. Michael Miller, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, sums up the benefits of laughter: "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack...The ability to laugh -- either naturally or as learned behavior may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer."

Research into the positive effects of laughter is generating a global interest into humor and well-being. The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor sites this official definition of Therapeutic Humor: "Any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life's situations...This intervention may enhance health or be used as a complementary treatment of illness to facilitate healing or coping, whether physical, emotional, cognitive, social or spiritual."


How many other therapies can you think of that are effective, free, and have no known negative effects?



"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
~E.E. Cummings



Source

RSDSA Joins Millions Around World To Observe Rare Disease Day

The last day of February has been designated as worldwide "Rare Disease Day" to call attention to the public health issues associated with rare diseases, which affect nearly 30 million Americans and countless others around the world.

"People with rare diseases remain a medically underserved population in every country," said Peter Saltonstall, president of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), which is sponsoring Rare Disease Day in the U.S. "This day is intended to bring together the patients and families with rare diseases to discuss the need for greater awareness, more research, and better access to diagnosis and treatment."

RSDSA is part of the U.S. coalition supporting Rare Disease Day. The coalition, being coordinated by NORD, includes patient organizations, professional societies, government agencies, medical researchers, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Rare Disease Day activities in the U.S. will include a nationwide network of online videos, patient stories and blogs; newspaper, radio, and television reports; state and municipal proclamations; a Rare Disease Hall of Fame for researchers; and other activities designed to raise awareness of what it means to have a rare disease.

A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are nearly 7,000 such diseases affecting nearly 30 million Americans.

"People with rare diseases often face challenges that occur less frequently with more common diseases," Saltonstall said. "These include delay in getting an accurate diagnosis, few treatment options, and difficulty finding medical experts. Many rare diseases have no approved treatment, and insurance may not cover treatments that aren't approved. Medical and social services may be denied because those making the decisions are not familiar with the diseases. Also, treatments for rare diseases tend to be more expensive than treatments for more common diseases."

In 1983, the Orphan Drug Act was passed by Congress to create financial incentives for companies to develop treatments for rare diseases. Since then, nearly 330 "orphan" (for rare diseases) drugs and biologics have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA estimates that from 11 to 14 million Americans benefit from these products, but that still leaves more than 15 million Americans with diseases for which there is no approved treatment.

Rare Disease Day also will highlight the unique partnership that exists among the patient community, government entities such as the NIH Office of Rare Diseases and FDA Office of Orphan Products Development, medical professionals, researchers, and companies developing orphan products.

This will be the second annual Rare Disease Day. The concept was launched in Europe last year by the European Rare Disease Organization, EURORDIS, a sister organization to NORD. Rare Disease Day also is being observed in other parts of the world, including Canada, Australia, and China this year. The plan is to have a global Rare Disease Day on the last day of February each year.

NORD, a federation of individuals and patient organizations, was established in 1983 by the patient leaders who worked to get the Orphan Drug Act passed. It provides advocacy in Washington, DC, on behalf of the rare disease community; research grants and fellowships; educational services for patients, the public, and medical professionals; and patient assistance programs.

For more information about Rare Disease Day activities in the U.S., go to NORD's website (www.rarediseases.org). For information about the global observance, go to www.rarediseaseday.org.

Ideas to Empower YOU in Pain Survival !!

Remember to have fun—and seize the day!

Self-Care -- Relaxation/Meditation

* Take a long bubble bath and light some candles.
* Slow down—and breath deeply…
* Use aromatherapy—relax to your favorite scents.
* Meditate, with a group or by yourself.
* Listen or make music (i.e., play a CD, sing or play an instrument.)
* Get a massage by a professional masseuse – or someone you love…
* Seek out things that make you laugh—remember, laughter is the best medicine!
* Buy a bouquet of flowers to cheer up your surroundings!
* Grow something—commune with Mother Nature!
* Stir your imagination—imagine a pleasant experience, moment, sensation…
* Make or craft something (i.e., knit a scarf, do pottery, etc.)
* Go to an outdoor concert, and don’t forget to pack a picnic.
* Treat yourself to a manicure and/or pedicure. Be a Queen for a day!
* Explore an antique store—lose yourself among the treasures…

Cognitive/Mental Strategies

* Practice mindfulness—be in the moment…
* Try art therapy (i.e., paint or draw a picture that shows how you feel!)
* Use narrative therapy (i.e., write your pain experience.)
* Keep a gratitude/affirmation log (write down three things you’re grateful for each day.)
* When depression and/or anxiety hits, don’t fight it. Know it’s a part of the natural pain experience.
But don’t hold on for too long…
* Accept that everything you’re feeling is real and normal.
* Take a class, learn something new—and stimulate your mind!
* Wear a bright color—they excite the senses!
* Reflect upon affirming, positive memories…
* Read a great book—or a breezy romance novel.
* Express your true and authentic self. You’re the only you!
* Think positive, affirming things about yourself.
* Take a trip, even if it’s a virtual one.
* Seek support through a professional pain counselor.
* Make a change and surprise yourself (i.e., get a new haircut, try a new recipe, etc.)
* Get dressed up and put your make-up on, just because it makes you feel good!
* Keep a positive attitude, hang in there and keep the faith!
* Practice appreciation for your healthcare providers—more often than not, they’re trying their best to help…
* On a bad day, remember what Scarlet O’Hara said, “Tomorrow is another day!”
* Notice and appreciate the splendor of the season changes…
* Learn a foreign language…or two! Exercise that part of the brain that doesn’t read pain signals.
* Choose something you love, and do it every week, same day and time. A joyful routine gives you something sweet to look forward to…
* Don’t let your pain define you. Remember that while pain is now a part of your life experience, it’s not your identity.

Care of the Body

* Exercise regularly and keep your body moving. Hydrotherapy in warm water is especially effective with pain conditions.
* Eat a healthy diet (fruits, vegetables, lean meats, etc.)
* Avoid or quit smoking!
* Practice good sleep habits—enjoy waking up refreshed and renewed.
* Be open to alternative and complimentary therapies (i.e., acupuncture, guided imagery, etc.)
* Have realistic expectations about therapies (i.e., have you given your physical therapy regimen enough time to help?)
* Educate yourself about your pain condition. But don’t obsess and let it consume you…
* Listen to your body talk—you know it better than anyone else!
* Learn to say “no”—avoid stress by not over-burdening/committing yourself.
* Spend time in the sun—and don’t forget that all-important sun block!
* Practice good posture. A well-aligned and supported spine is virtually guaranteed to help any pain condition.

Relationships

* Do something nice for someone—it feels good, and that energy is sure to come back your way.
* Learn to forgive those who have disappointed you throughout your pain experience; anger is further fuel for pain!
* Adopt a pet. Unconditional love is good for the soul…
* Give someone a hug—who knows, you might just get two back!
* Volunteer for your favorite charity, school or organization. Doing good is chicken soup for the soul!
* Throw yourself a party. Celebrate an accomplishment with family and friends!
* Get involved in your community (i.e., attend neighborhood council meetings, help plan a block party, etc.)
* Seek out fellow chronic pain sufferers through on-line discussion boards and support groups at medical centers. These bonds could last a lifetime.
* Don’t forget about lovemaking with your partner. Intimacy is second to none to revive the soul and senses!
* Spend quality time with a child or children (yours, nieces or nephews, etc.)—they’ll help you see the world with eyes of wonder!
* Have an afternoon tea with some girlfriends.
* Accept an invitation to a party or other social event, even if you’re in pain. It’s great misdirection—and you’ll probably find yourself having a dandy time!
* Be open to talking to family and friends about your pain experience—and answering their naturally inquisitive questions. If they’re curious, they probably care. Try not to shut them out…
* Remove toxic people from your life—as stress and strain that comes from bad relationships makes pain worse. It’s appropriate to walk away from inappropriate people!

Assertiveness

* Remember it’s your body—and ultimately all possible treatment options are your choice.
* Be prepared for your doctor visits (i.e., have questions ready, be educated about your pain condition(s), etc.)
* Partner with your doctor. You’ll get better pain care results if you work as a team.

Find a good advocate at your health insurance company.

* Bring a family member or friend with you when you go to a doctor’s appointment. They can advocate for you—and it’s good for your doctor to know someone cares and is watching out for you.
* Examine and weigh your therapy options—the biggest “guns” may not be the answer for you.
* Don’t let your doctor pressure you into a therapy that you don’t want to do!
* Interview your pain management provider (i.e., What kind of therapies do you support for my condition?, Are you open to alternative/complimentary therapies?, etc.)
* Remember, one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to pain treatments. We’re all unique—and what helps one person may not help another.
* Seek out references with any doctor referral (i.e., talk to other patients, look up his/her standing with the state medical board, etc.)
* Make sure your treating healthcare professional is assessing your pain level during each visit—remember, pain assessment is “the fifth vital sign.”
* Find out if your hospital and/or clinic has a “Patient’s Bill of Rights”—and if so, make sure your treating healthcare professionals are following it.
* Learn about the potential side effects of any and all medications you are considering or presently taking. Sometimes their adverse side effects can create more harm than the problem you’re taking the medication(s) for.
* Run—don’t walk!—from any physician or other healthcare professional who doubts, dismisses and/or discounts your report of pain!
* Encourage your family and friends to educate themselves about your pain condition(s) (i.e., provide them with website resources, articles, etc.)
* Educate yourself about all of your therapy/treatment options (including complimentary and alternative choices)—this will enable you to make the best, most informed decisions about your pain management care.

Clinical Advice

* Using a rating scale such as 0 to10 (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain) is a useful way to communicate your pain to others and assess changes in your own pain.
* Use the rating scale to rate how much relief you are receiving. For example, if your pain therapy relieves your pain from a “10” to a “7”, this is a good step. But knowing your pain is a “7” should suggest that you still require additional help.
* Prevention of pain is key. Anticipate things that bring your pain on (exhaustion, dehydration, stress, etc.) and make every attempt to prevent pain versus responding only when it happens.
* When taking pain medication, always consider what non-drug treatment you could use along with it. Using heat/cold/massage/relaxation can diminish anxiety and distract you from the pain until the medication can begin working.
* Discover accurate and effective words to describe your pain (i.e., burning, stabbing, aching, pins and needles, electrical, throbbing, etc.) to help your healthcare provider with diagnosis and treatment.
* For chronic pain problems, it is generally better to take medications on a regular, around-the-clock schedule rather than only on a “prn”/as needed basis only when pain is severe.
* Fortunately, there are many choices of analgesics (be it traditional, complementary or alternative)—so if a particular pain therapy that has been prescribed doesn’t work or causes side-effects, ask to try another.
* In general for chronic pain, long-lasting medications are preferred to offer several hours of undisturbed sleep or activity.
* If your doctor prescribes physical therapy, be sure to find a therapist you have a repore with. Explain your symptoms carefully, and go over your doctor’s report together. Also be sure to immediately alert your therapist to any pain you’re experiencing as a result of a therapy exercise.
* “Breakthrough pain” is pain that occurs in episodes between doses of medications. Discuss this with your physician to determine if breakthrough medications are needed.
* Inactivity or decreased function is a major problem in chronic pain and results in muscle weakness, dependence, depression—and this cycle only worsens over time. Try to maintain activity if at all possible.
* Depression and anxiety are generally an integral part of the pain experience—and can become severe. Don’t hesitate to tell your pain management provider about these feelings and indeed ask for a referral for a support group and/or psychologist. Your doctor should know psychologists who specialize in pain.

Together, we THRIVE!!

Missing A Day In The Life of ..... ME!!

^{_{Wow Everyone I have got to tell you all something....I have lost an entire day by sleeping it away. I have been doing some amazing visualizations for relaxing so I can heal better from the surgery, well maybe not better but faster and easier on this old body...hahahahaha. And I tell ya, it has been working so very very well that Tuesday night I went to sleep with these beautiful images in my head and the next thing I knew it was noon Wednesday. I ate a sandwich, took my morning doses of meds which is consists of Lyrica, Tramadol, and Lexapro...then I took my vitamins, crawled back into bed, got comfy again and I was out!! I woke up again at 7pm to go potty, went in and said Hi to my mom, eat some dinner that she saved for me,(God Bless MOMS!!) because I missed eating with them, took my evening meds which consists of Lyrica and Tramadol, crawled back into bed, got comfy again and I am just now waking up again and it's after 2am Thursday morning....so I completely missed out on the entire day. And I contribute it all to the relaxation techniques that I have been doing.....it has been simply amazing!! I must admit that I do feel really good right now and ready to tackle the world, but I know I must stay in this bed at least until 7am when I can get up, shower, and get ready to head out for my 2 doctor appointments I have along with some other running I would like to attempt for the first time since having surgery....curious as to how this SCS really works and I am ready to give it a good work out!! Staying in this bed is about to drive me insane, I mean I can't even sit in the living room with my mom or anything, I mean I totally understand why they would prefer me not to move too much but crap ola man, this has been long enough and I need to test drive this puppy I have driving inside me!! Gotta make sure I got my money's worth ya know!!}}

^{_{Wonder if I will be able to go home this weekend....I would love to, but not sure if I can or not. I was doing the math and it has only been a little over 2 weeks since the surgery....man it feels so much longer.....and since the doctor explained to me where all the stitches are and how there are so many that they don't even count them and how I have to heal from the inside out....well I have been taking that all into consideration and I am now starting to doubt if I can drive the 2 1/2 hours to make it back home this weekend, but the testing today will let me know exactly how much I can take or not take. Should be a really good day of testing, with lots of trials and tribulations, but one I am sure I will conquer!!
Of course I will let you all know how it all went, but I can't promise it will be tonight, I might be sleeping my life away again....hahahahaha.}}

^{_{Anyway, just wanted to share that with you all because I am having such an amazing experience with the visualization techniques for relaxation...of course it is part of my coaching packages, but I hadn't had a reason to try it on a healing issue when surgery is involved....but it really helps!!}}

^{_{Hope everyone is having an Amazing Day!!}}

^{_{~Many Blessings~}}

Saying Hello

This is my first post on here so I thought it would be nice to say "Hello" to you all before I go off into the world of afflictions.
How did I come to blogger? A sweet lady named Vivian has a blog on here called Danieldoo her link is www.danieldoo.blogspot.com and I really like the set up she has on her page, I decided I needed another blog to try and keep up with...hahahaha.

Anyway, I hope to meet some wonderful people here that I can become friends with, encourage, or just help get through a rough day.

So, until we meet.....

~Have An Amazing Day~