Sugary drink warning labeling bill stalls in Assembly Health committee Legislation that would have required sugar-sweetened beverages to bear a label warning consumers of their negative health effects failed to clear the Assembly Health committee yesterday. Senate Bill 1000, California’s Sugary Drink Safety Warning Act, which the California Medical Association co-sponsored, would have placed a simple warning label on the front of all bottles and cans of sugary drinks sold in California. The label, developed by a national panel of nutrition and public health experts, would have read: STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to ... June 19, 2014 General Public Health, State Legislative Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA HOD adopts CMA's meningococcal vaccination resolution The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) adopted a resolution proposed by the California Medical Association (CMA) that supports meningococcal vaccinations for school children. Resolution 414 asks that the AMA support efforts to require school children to be vaccinated against meningococcal virus under the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines. Testimony on the issue reminded the delegates that this is a complex issue and recommended further investigation into why 30 percent of school children are not getting the meningococcal vaccine. The AMA Council on Science and Public Health ... June 19, 2014 General Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, AMA 0 0 Comment Read More »
Pertussis on the rise in California The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reporting an uptick in cases of pertussis since the beginning of the year. According to the state, a total of 2,649 cases have been reported, with more than 800 new cases reported in April alone—the highest monthly count since the 2010 epidemic. Pertussis can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening complications in infants, especially within the first 6 months of life.Two infant mortalities have been reported this year—the first infant pertussis fatalities reported since 2010. In 2010, 9,159 total cases were reported, including ... June 18, 2014 General Public Health, Immunization, Pertussis, Whooping Cough 0 0 Comment Read More »
Soda warning label bill clears committee A California Medical Association-sponsored bill that would place safety warning labels on sodas and other sugary beverages sold in California has cleared California’s Senate Health Committee on a 5-2 vote. The first-in-the-nation legislation (SB 1000) was introduced by State Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and would ensure that all Californians are aware of the critical scientific information linking sugary drink consumption to exploding rates of diabetes and obesity. The bill would place a simple warning on the front of all beverage containers with added sweeteners that have 75 or more calories per ... April 16, 2014 General Pediatrics, Public Health, State Legislation, Obesity 0 0 Comment Read More »
April - National Donate Life Month In honor of Donate Life Month, the California Medical Association (CMA) and the CMA Foundation are encouraging physicians to talk to their patients about the importance of organ and tissue donation, particularly in underserved ethnic communities. More than 120,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant in the United States, more than half of these are multicultural patients. That’s because some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver that are best treated through transplantation are found more frequently in these populations. For example, African Americans and other ... April 4, 2014 General Public Health, Organs 0 0 Comment Read More »
Health Advisory - Measles Update - April 2, 2014 Maxwell Ohikhuare, M.D., Health Officer, County of San Bernardino Measles Update: 49 Measles Cases in the State of California in 2014 Look for Signs of this Highly Contagious Disease Measles activity continues to be high in California this year. As of March 27, 2014, 49 confirmed measles cases with onset in 2014 had been reported to California Department of Public Health. In 2013, four measles cases had been reported by this date. Among the 2014 cases, 11 patients had traveled outside of North and South America with travel to the Philippines (n=8), ... April 4, 2014 General Health Advisory, Public Health, Measles 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Immunization Coalition Summit coming in May The 2014 California Immunization Summit will be held on May 4-5 in Sacramento. This annual summit is an opportunity for physicians to learn about community-based programs that have increased vaccination rates, and how to adapt and apply key lessons from successful programs. The summit is presented by the California Immunization Coalition, a public-private partnership dedicated to achieving and maintaining full immunization protection for all Californians to promote health and prevent serious illness. This year's program, “Harnessing the Power of Community,” includes two keynote speakers, Melinda Wharton, M.D., M.P.H., acting director ... March 27, 2014 General Public Health, Vaccination, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
CA Assemblyman Richard Pan, MD receives national government service award Assemblyman Richard Pan, M.D., a Sacramento pediatrician and representative for the California State Assembly's 9th District, this week received the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service from the American Medical Association (AMA). The award was presented during the AMA's National Advocacy Conference this week in Washington, D.C. “Dr. Pan’s outstanding leadership in public health has helped California families build safer, healthier communities,” said AMA Chair David O. Barbe, M.D., MHA. “Dr. Pan is recognized for his commitment to improving the lives of Californians for generations to come ... March 7, 2014 General American Medical Association, Awards, Public Health, CMA Governance 0 0 Comment Read More »
Field Poll shows broad voter support for health warning labels on sugar sweetened beverages Sacramento- The California Medical Association (CMA) is pleased to see the recently released poll figures suggesting that California voters support the notion of applying health-warning labels on sodas and other sugar sweetened beverages. The poll, which was conducted by The Field Poll and The California Endowment, found that 74 percent of voters support the requirement to apply health warning labels to sugar sweetened beverages, with 52 percent of voters “strongly” endorsing the requirement. Support for the labeling of potentially harmful beverages was also bipartisan, with 80 percent of Democrats, 64 ... February 20, 2014 General Advocacy, State Legislative Advocacy, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
November is national COPD awareness month In recognition of national COPD awareness month, the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation is encouraging physicians to talk to their patients about simple measures they can take to improve their lung function. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a serious lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. Also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, it recently surpassed stroke as the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million are likely to have the disease ... November 6, 2013 General Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
