Category: Health

As Congress debates Medicaid budget cuts, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) urges policymakers to protect Medicaid’s critical health care infrastructure. Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, supports and stabilizes the health care delivery system for all Californians. More than 40% of residents in San Bernardino and Riverside counties are enrolled in Medi-Cal for access to quality health care. Receiving health coverage through Medi-Cal allows members to focus on supporting their family, maintaining a job, and boosting the local economy through workforce stability. “In times like these, programs like Medicaid are more important than ever to help keep individuals and families above water,” said IEHP Chief Executive Officer Jarrod McNaughton. “Unfortunately, policymakers are considering drastic cuts to Medicaid that would put the health and economic security of our community at risk.” IEHP’s network includes more than 9,000 health care providers, 855 clinics, and 36 hospitals serving over 1.5 million Medi-Cal enrollees. Large cuts to Medi-Cal funding would harm providers’ financial stability, impacting access to care for all residents and potentially leading to closures of critical health facilities.  More than half of non-disabled Medi-Cal enrollees work in

By Dr. Archana Dubey, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare of California With spring nearly here, people in California and across the country will contend with an annual tradition many would rather skip: The shift to daylight saving time. The process of “springing forward” means losing an hour of sleep, which can disrupt our daily routines and may have various health implications, including an increased risk of heart attacks, mood disturbances and accidents such as car crashes. Previous polling has found 62% of Americans would rather stop changing the clocks altogether, an approach used by just two states (Arizona and Hawaii). Without a clear path to making that happen nationally, it is important to identify ways to help ease the transition ahead of time while supporting your health in the days immediately after the change.  Here are three strategies to consider:  Modify and optimize your sleep routine. During the days before the time change (this year on March 9), aim to shift your bedtime 15 minutes earlier each night. Doing this may help minimize the potential of feeling tired after the change, reducing the impact of losing an hour of sleep

By Kaunteya Reddy, M.D., Medical Director of Gastroenterology, Redlands Community Hospital In recent years, we’ve noticed an alarming trend of people under the age of 50 developing colon cancer. In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, everyone ages 45 and older should be screened for colon cancer. Abnormal growths in the colon, known as polyps, may develop into cancer if left unchecked. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, routine colonoscopy screening can prevent 60% of colon cancer deaths. About 70% of people who get diagnosed with colon cancer have no family history of the disease. A family history of colon cancer, diets low in fiber, obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise may increase the risk of developing the disease. If you have a family history of colon cancer, your physician may recommend starting screenings earlier. Symptoms of colon cancer may include a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, blood in the stool, or