Covering the most noteworthy news stories in the health and wellness industry for the Filipino community.
DURING Wednesday night’s Democratic presidential primary debate — the first in a two-night event viewed as the de facto launch of the primary season — health policies, ranging from “Medicare for All” to efforts to curb skyrocketing drug prices, were among the key issues the 10 hopeful candidates onstage used to help differentiate themselves from…
MANY people refer to the hair as one’s crowning glory. I could say the same for very good reasons. The hair, being one of the first things people see when trying to recognize someone, can tell a lot about a person and may affect how he or she is perceived. With all things considered, our…
Bill limits the medical exemptions to avoid immunizing children before school enrollment Despite hundreds of parents’ emotional opposition to proposed changes to California’s immunization requirements in a five-hour hearing, a public health committee in the California Assembly passed a bill that would tighten those requirements on Thursday, June 20. The Assembly Health Committee passed the…
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. on Tuesday, June 18, said it has withdrawn WellMed Dialysis Center’s accreditation after reports of bogus benefit claims made by the facility for non-existent kidney treatments. In a Twitter post, the state-run health insurer said: “WellMed patients are advised to transfer to other accredited dialysis facilities to ensure continuous availment…
With the first Democratic debates a week away, health care is the top issue the party’s voters say they want candidates to address, according to a poll released on Tuesday, June 18. But what they mean by that varies widely. Nearly 9 out of 10 Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents said it is very important for…
Philhealth under fire amid reports of fraudulent claims MEDICAL inflation in the Philippines is on the rise this year, surging to 13.7% from 2018’s 13% making it the second highest increase in the Asia-Pacific region, a recent study found. According to the “2019 Medical Trends Around The World,” the rise in Philippine healthcare cost is…
by Anna Maria Barry-Jester AS California lawmakers attempt to tighten the rules on childhood vaccinations, they’re getting pushback from unexpected quarters: high-profile officials who support vaccines. In the past few weeks, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and the members of the Medical Board of California have questioned a bill that would give the California Department of…
There’s an adage that says, if you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin. These days, it’s much easier to follow that as a rule of thumb, given that there’s focus on products that use more natural ingredients that we can identify and reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. One such skincare line is…
Expansion increases healthy food budgets for older adults and people with disabilities receiving SSI/SSP benefits On June 5, Mayor London N. Breed announced that San Francisco has implemented an expansion of the CalFresh food assistance program to alleviate hunger for thousands living on low and fixed incomes. For the first time, 41,000 seniors and people…
Officials asked to submit resignation amid reports of fraud Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday, June 10, said President Rodrigo Duterte has asked officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to submit their courtesy resignations amid reports of fraudulent claims. He also said that the PhilHealth officials were scheduled to resign during a meeting…
by Jenny Gold ON any given day, more than 4,000 people pass through the library at California State University-Los Angeles. On April 11, one of them had measles. The building has only one entrance, which means that anyone who entered or exited the library within two hours of that person’s visit potentially was exposed to…
by Ana B. Ibarra CALIFORNIA has some of the nation’s strongest protections against surprise medical bills. But many Californians still get slammed with huge out-of-network charges. State lawmakers are now trying to close gaps in the law with a bill that would limit how much hospitals outside of a patient’s insurance network can charge for…
“It’s such a pleasure to find myself in this kind of work that is so fulfilling to me. In the Philippines, this has been the work I’ve been doing for several years now, on the front of HIV and AIDS, spreading the message of inclusivity, acceptance and trying to breaking down stigma,” Miss Universe 2018…
THE World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, May 28, clarified that while “burnout” remains an “occupational phenomenon” that could lead someone to seek care, it is not a medical condition. This was after the WHO mistakenly said it had listed burnout in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for the first time. The latest catalogue…
by Judith Graham FOR the first time, the federal government is shining a spotlight on the quality of rehabilitation care at nursing homes — services used by nearly 2 million older adults each year. Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare website now includes a “star rating” (a composite measure of quality) for rehab services — skilled nursing…
Looking for activities in LA this weekend? Consider WE RISE LA, a 10-day pop-up immersive experience featuring performances, an art exhibition, and workshops around mental wellbeing, in time for May as Mental Health Awareness Month. The festival, which runs from Saturday, May 18 to Monday, May 27 in Downtown LA’s Art District, will bring together…
by Ana B. Ibarra / Kaiser Health News CALIFORNIA will ban the use of a widely used pesticide in the face of “mounting evidence” that it causes developmental problems in children, state officials announced on Wednesday, May 8. Several studies have linked prenatal exposure of chlorpyrifos to lower birth weights, lower IQs, attention deficit hyperactivity…
NO matter how rewarding motherhood is, it can still be a tad too stressful and overwhelming. Taking care of the family is always the topmost priority, but sometimes in doing so, you’re stretching yourself too thin. However, taking the time to relax seems like a waste of time nowadays — especially when you can be…
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, May 2 launched the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) crisis hotline which aims to help curb the rising suicide prevalence in the Philippines. According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the hotline will be operated by the NCMH 24/7 and will “respond to the needs of those…
Life can change in an instant, whether it’s your health or your personal situation. Elvira of Los Angeles lost her health insurance when the auto dealership she worked for closed its doors suddenly at the end of January. “I did not want to be without a job and without health insurance. You never know…
THIS year, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has chosen the Nurses Week (May 6-12) tagline of “Four Million Reasons to Celebrate” to be an ode to the nation’s 4 million registered nurses who daily represent the nation’s healthcare system and dedicate themselves to providing quality care all clinical settings. According to the ANA, nurses make…
by Shefali Luthra HIGH prescription drug prices are fast becoming a leading political topic, with medications like insulin emerging as a poster child for the issue. Nearly doubling in price from 2012 to 2016, the diabetes medication has commanded bipartisan attention on Capitol Hill and even a shoutout in a recent Netflix comedy special. Voters…
Los Angeles residents urged to be fully immunized against measles Hundreds of students and faculty at two Los Angeles universities have been quarantined after potentially being exposed to measles, according to university and Los Angeles County health officials. The reports are among the most recent in the U.S. where a total of 695 measles cases…
by Samantha Young California regularly portrays itself as a national trendsetter on political issues, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is claiming that title on prescription drugs. Newsom has a plan to take on the drug industry, and at an April 17 news conference in Southern California, he declared that two other governors already want to…
Notes from the 2019 Filipino Mental Health and Wellness Summit ON Saturday, April 13, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Special Service for Groups and Filipino American Service Group, Inc. hosted the 2019 Filipino Mental Health and Wellness Summit, an all-day, all-encompassing conference focussed on the past, present and future of mental health…
by Sarah Varney It’s Saturday morning and the women of the Contreras family are busy in Montclair, Calif., making pupusas, tamales and tacos. They’re working to replace the income of José Contreras, who has been held since last June at Southern California’s Adelanto ICE Processing Center, a privately run immigration detention center. José’s daughter, Giselle,…
Sauna therapy has been around for for centuries, boasting many health benefits from de-stressing to detoxing. There are a handful of spas here in Southern California where you can enjoy a good sweat session and burn calories, all without having to exercise. While sitting in a traditional sauna can still provide these benefits, infrared saunas…
by Rachel Bluth One point drew clear agreement Tuesday during a House subcommittee hearing: When it comes to the problem of surprise medical bills, the solution must protect patients — not demand that they be great negotiators. “It is the providers and insurers, not patients, who should bear the burden of settling on a fair…
‘American Ninja Warrior’ contestant Pamela Price on life on and off the course with a rare autoimmune disease ALL across the world and across all industries, there are Filipinos breaking barriers. In government, medicine and science as well as Hollywood, the music industry, visual and performance art and professional sports, the Asian Journal has covered…
NEW research shows that the risks of death from heart disease and stroke vary among Asian American subgroups, with the Filipino, Indian and Vietnamese populations facing the greatest risk. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association on Wednesday, March 20, the study examines the years of potential life lost due to cardiovascular diseases…
