Medical / Health

Trump Administration Food Stamp Cuts Will Hit 3,600 in Humboldt

by Thadeus Greenson on December 9, 2019 at 9:05AM

The Trump administration has announced that it will be changing food stamp eligibility requirements, which could cut nutrition assistance to 688,000 Americans, including more than 3,500 in Humboldt County. On Dec. 4, the administration announced it would be eliminating waivers that allow counties with high unemployment rates to allow able-bodied adults without dependents who work fewer than 80 hours a month to receive food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for more than three months.

With Covered California Deadline Approaching, Officials Say New Subsidies and Eligibility Requirements Are Available

by Thadeus Greenson on December 7, 2019 at 3:32PM

If you want to sign up for health insurance through Covered California and enter 2020 insured, you’re running out of time. The Dec. 15 deadline to sign up in time to start the New Year with coverage is approaching and state officials are reminding California residents without health insurance that they will face a penalty next year.

St. Joseph Hospital and Redwood Memorial Hospital Healthcare Workers on Strike

by Iridian Casarez on November 21, 2019 at 3:50PM

will be able to report to work after the replacement period ends on Monday, Nov. 25, for their next regularly scheduled shift. Some striking employees may be able to return earlier if patient needs dictate.”

CDC Reports Links Vaping Lung Injuries to Vitamin E

by Thadeus Greenson on November 8, 2019 at 12:41PM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified vitamin E acetate, an ingredient used to cut cannabis concentrate oils, as a "very strong culprit" in the rash of vaping-related lung injuries across the nation that now include more than three dozen deaths. The CDC report released today does not rule out the possibility other chemicals or toxins could be contributing to the vaping-related illnesses, which have now impacted more than 2,000 people, and warns against vaping products that contain THC, "especially obtained from informal sources such as friends or family, or those from the illicit market, where product ingredients are unknown or can be hugely variable."

State DOJ Denies Proposed St. Joseph, Adventist Health System Merger

by Kimberly Wear on October 31, 2019 at 3:11PM

The California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) today issued a letter denying the proposed partnership between Adventist Health System/West and St. Joseph Health System. The parties submitted notices to the CA DOJ that requested approval to form a joint operating company to manage and have authority over each health system’s facilities in Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties.

Where to Get Medical Supplies, Charge Devices During the Blackout

by Thadeus Greenson on October 25, 2019 at 3:30PM

With Humboldt County’s impending blackout looming, the county Office of Emergency Services is urging residents to stock up on enough medical supplies to last at least a few days and officials are scurrying to set up medical device charging stations throughout the county. The entirety of Humboldt County is expected to lose power Saturday afternoon and officials say the fire warnings that prompted it could last until Monday afternoon, after which it could take several days for PG&E to inspect and re-energize the lines.

NBC News Investigation Finds Vitamin E, Pesticides in Illicit Vape Cartridges

by Thadeus Greenson on September 27, 2019 at 2:35PM

Here’s a description from our Dec. 21, 2017, story “High Stakes,” which looked at the local cannabis industry’s concerns about coming into compliance with the state’s recreational cannabis testing program that was set to come online in the beginning of 2018: The biggest pesticide offender was myclobutanil — the active ingredient in fungicides like Eagle 20 and Nova 40 that are used to treat black rot and powdery mildew — which was responsible for the majority of failed tests.

California Department of Public Health: 'Refrain from Vaping'

by Iridian Casarez on September 25, 2019 at 10:45AM

The California Department of Public Health has issued a health advisory recommending people stop vaping, no matter the substance or source, until current investigations are complete. According to a release, as of Sept. 24, the CDPH had received 90 reports of people with a history of vaping who have been hospitalized for “severe breathing problems and lung damage, and two people have died” in California.

Eureka, County Are Parties in Opioid Settlement Agreement

by Thadeus Greenson on September 12, 2019 at 11:02AM

Eureka and Humboldt County are parties to the tentative multi-billion-dollar settlement reached this week in a landmark lawsuit brought by thousands of municipal governments and more than two dozen states against Purdue Pharma, the company that created OxyContin. The settlement — which still needs to be ratified by plaintiffs and approved by the judge — reportedly involves Purdue Pharma filing for bankruptcy protection, dissolving and emerging as a new company, the profits of which would be distributed among plaintiffs in the case.

Local Officials Warn Against Cannabis Use During Pregnancy

by Iridian Casarez on August 21, 2019 at 10:33AM

Stephens added that there is no research that shows what amount of cannabis is safe and, until more information is available, it is important to avoid it in any form during pregnancy. However, studies published in the journal Birth Defects Research found that consuming cannabis while pregnant can potentially harm the behavioral development of your children.

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