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California Unprepared for Hepatitis C Virus Epidemic |
A California Senate
Hearing on hepatitis
C today reviewed the Department of Health Services (DHS)
and Department of Corrections' handling of a little known, but
deadly and pervasive virus -- hepatitis C. |
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California's Hepatitis C Task Force |
Resolution in support of Federal funding for
California Counties Department of Health Services between county Hepatitis C Virus
task forces and the local community partnerships for testing,
training, education, prevention, medical/Health providers in
recognition that this approach will best control the Hepatitis C
epidemic in California |
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County backs new AIDS bill |
In an effort to cut
down on the spread of AIDS, Contra Costa County officials are
backing a proposed state law that would make it easy to buy syringes
over the counter. |
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CALIFORNIA DISCLOSURE LAWS |
That's a matter
of state law. Arkansas, for example (Ark. Code Ann Sec. 20-15-903)
makes it a misdemeanor for people who are HIV+ to fail to inform
their health care provider, which would include an orthodontist;
California does not. The Law and Sexuality journal did a very
comprehensive survey of state HIV laws, most recently updated in
2004, that is helpful for this sort of question |
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Changes in workers' compensation-2004-Calif. |
In 2004, a major
legislative reform package was passed in California. The total cost
of administering the Workers’ Compensation Program will now be borne
by the employer community through surcharges levied by the Director
of Industrial Relations. Temporary disability benefits are now
limited to 104 weeks within a period of 2 years from the date of
commencement of temporary disability payments, but may be extended
to 240 weeks for certain injuries. Beginning in 2005, employers may
establish medical provider networks in an attempt to improve medical
care for injured employees by providing them with a choice of
physicians. The apportionment of permanent disability is now based
on causation, and an employer is only liable for the portion of
disability directly caused by the injury. |
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CONSUMERS: HIV/AIDS |
Since the first
diagnosed case of HIV/AIDS over twenty years ago, there have been
many remarkable advances in treating the disease. The life
expectancy for many people living with HIV/AIDS has increased
dramatically. The continuing hope is that medical science will find
a cure for HIV/AIDS or at least be able to develop treatment
therapies that cause the disease to be treated as a chronic
condition. While public attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS have changed
for the better because of education and exposure, many of the
concerns surrounding HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment remain the
same. The cost of life-saving drugs and treatment regimens are still
very expensive. Also, people living with HIV/AIDS often face
discrimination because of ignorance about the disease. |
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HIV/AIDS: California Dept. of Insurance |
The California
Department of Insurance (CDI) believes that it is crucial for people
living with HIV/AIDS to know their insurance rights. Being informed
of your insurance rights can help you take charge of your future and
allow you to effectively manage HIV/AIDS. This brochure discusses
the most common HIV/AIDS insurance issues regarding health, life,
and disability income insurance. |
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Legislation for Dependents' coverage under Workers' Compensation Law
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This bill would
provide that if a person who is a specified state or local
firefighting, law enforcement, or patrol member sustains an injury
that meets the definition of a blood-borne infectious disease, and a
dependant of that person contracts the same disease from the person,
the dependant shall be compensated, for the duration of the disease,
for all medically necessary health care costs associated with the
disease. |
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Number of New Reported California AIDS Cases Increased 6% in 2002 |
The number of new
AIDS cases reported in California in 2002 increased by 6% to 4,437,
after a decade of decreases, according to the state Office of
AIDS, the Los Angeles Times
reports. State officials attributed the increase to improved
reporting by physicians and laboratories under a new system, not to
a failure of HIV/AIDS treatments or a "resurgence" of high-risk
behavior, the Times reports (Ornstein, Los Angeles Times,
1/11). Under the new system, launched on July 1, 2002, physicians
and labs must report new HIV cases, in addition to new AIDS cases,
to the state. |
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