One out of four children in California elementary schools have untreated tooth decay, which can lead to severe problems if allowed to worsen, a new study reveals.
An estimated 138,000 kids -- 4 percent of elementary school students -- are in such pain from rotting teeth, abscesses and oral infections they need to see a dentist within 24 hours.
Yet many suffer quietly, forgoing treatment because their families lack insurance, don't realize the importance of dental care or can't afford it.
These are among the serious findings of a statewide survey released today by the Dental Health Foundation.
Teams of dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and nurses traveled to schools throughout the state from February to June last year to peer in the mouths of 21,000 kindergartners and third-graders.
"To be candid, we were shocked," said foundation Chairman Dave Perry in an introduction to the report.
"While there are children in some high-income schools that have never had a cavity, in other schools there are kids in weakening, chronic pain in every classroom," he said.
Similar surveys were conducted in 24 other states. California had the second-worst record for prevalence of tooth decay, topping only Arkansas.
When Long Beach students smile, the teeth they sparkle aren't always pearly white. A survey released Monday reveals that tooth decay is a major problem among students in the Long Beach Unified School District. It is five times more common than asthma and can lead to speech problems, a lack of concentration due to the pain, a host of other illnesses brought on by the decay, and missed school days. A statewide survey, also out Monday, showed similar, although slightly better, results throughout California. During the 2004-2005 school year, dental health care professionals looked in the mouths of randomly selected kindergarten and third grade students throughout the state.
More than 21,000 students were screened. In Long Beach, 826 kindergartners and 816 third grade students took part at 12 schools. Of those screened in Long Beach, more than half of the kindergartners and seven out of 10 third graders had tooth decompose. In 28% of those cases, the decay was untreated. Additionally, 13% of kindergartners tested had never been to the dentist; that number dropped to 5% among the third graders. "This is data which pretty much confirms what we as practitioners in Long Beach already knew," said Santos Cortz, DDS, the lead investigator of Long Beach Smile. "There were not a whole lot of surprises." The reasons behind the prevalence of dental decay among children in Long Beach are varied, from misconceptions that baby teeth don't need treatment to lack of dental insurance, Cortz said.
The preventable disease is most common among minority and poor children because their families either don't have insurance or cannot afford the care even with Medical assistance. "The issue with patients on Medi-Cal is it's a state-funded program that is under funded," Cortz said, adding that in some communities money isn't the only factor. "Half the population among children in Long Beach are Latino and many have never been to the dentist. Their parents have never been to the dentist and those customs are not passed down." Signs of tooth decay can begin early. White spots on the teeth of kids point to decalcification of the tooth, often caused by milk excess in the mouth.
Left alone, these teeth can become grossly decayed, turning to a "soft gooey mush on the tooth," said Cortz, who also has been a pediatric dentist for 24 years and volunteers at the Children's Dental Health Clinic at Miller Children's Hospital. "There's a misconception that because baby teeth will fall out eventually, they do not need to be treated," Cortz said. "The baby teeth help guide the permanent teeth, and baby teeth do remain in the mouth until a child is 11 or 12."
Left untreated, tooth decay can be very painful for children and cause more health problems, Cortz said. The bacteria in the decay can leak into the blood stream and make a child more vulnerable to illness, he said. Making dental health part of a child's regular checkup would go a long way to preventing tooth decay in older children, Cortz said. Steps are being taken toward that goal; a county program plans to train physicians and dentists to talk to parents about oral heath care. "What we're trying to do is make physicians aware that before they get to the tonsils, there are teeth and gums too,' Cortz said.
"We need to make sure children are being assessed at the pediatrician and dental office." While the statistics of the survey point to a problem in Long Beach, Cortz said the city is in a better position than most cities to deal with it. There are programs currently in place that focus on childhood oral health. However, they do not have the resources to match the need, he said. The Long Beach Health and Human Services Department's Smile Bright program goes into schools and provides dental education to teachers, students and parents, as well as sealant treatments for children. Volunteer dentists also do screenings in the district and through the Miller Children's Dental Health Clinic.
"If I could put some goals down now, I would look at the issue of early education, and look at the issue of providing additional funding for the clinic," Cortz said. "I would enhance the Smile Bright program and bring more awareness to the public. These problems are solvable. We've just got to keep the fire going." office." While the statistics of the survey point to a problem in Long Beach, Cortz said the city is in a better position than most cities to deal with it. There are programs currently in place that focus on childhood oral health. However, they do not have the resources to match the need, he said. The Long Beach Health and Human Services Department's Smile Bright program goes into schools and provides dental education to teachers, students and parents, as well as sealant treatments for children.
Volunteer dentists also do screenings in the district and through the Miller Children's Dental Health Clinic. "If I could put some goals down now, I would look at the issue of early education, and look at the issue of providing additional funding for the clinic,'"Cortz said. "I would enhance the Smile Bright program and bring more awareness to the public. These problems are solvable. We've just got to keep the fire going."
"California will continue to keep our vulnerable residents to ensure their needs are met until this federal system is fully functioning. I want to thank the legislative leaders for working with me to continue our commitment to ensure Californians have access to needed, life-saving medications," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "This is a federal program experiencing serious problems that need to be fixed. My administration will continue to work with the federal government to resolve these issues and ensure California is fully reimbursed for the costs of taking this necessary emergency action." On January 1, 2006, under the Medicare Modernization Act, the federal government took responsibility for prescription drug coverage for the nearly one million Californians most in need who are dually eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare. The transition of these individuals to Medicare plans resulted in an error rate of 20 percent. On January 12, 2006, to bring immediate relief to Californians impacted by this transition, Governor Schwarzenegger implemented an emergency program to pay for recommendation drugs for beneficiaries who have been incapable to obtain them through their Medicare coverage and agreed with legislative leaders to pass legislation to fund this program. This legislation, AB 132 by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), allowed for the implementation of a 30-day emergency program and allocated $150 million to fund it. Since that time, California has continued to fill more than 11,000 prescriptions each day. As of February 1, 2006, the number of Californians impacted by this transition increased by 10,000 newly eligible Californians entering the system and residents continue to experience difficulty in obtaining the medications they need. As a result of this, the Governor and legislative leaders have introduced legislation to extend this program for up to 90 additional days. "While I'm pleased that the legislature and governor are once again stepping into the break created by the Bush Administration and are protecting vulnerable Californians from flaws in the Medicare Part D program, the Bush Administration must also step up, fix the problem, and fully pay us for all the funds we advance," said Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata. "I'm delighted to work with the Governor once again to address this problem. But the state should stop having to put its finger in the dam. There are more problems frightening on the horizon since the federal government has only agreed to reimburse the state through February 15th, and recipients are changing their health plans and will be denied their drugs at pharmacies once again. The Administration and Congress should step up to the plate and solve this problem once and for all," continued Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. "Last month, Democrats and Republicans worked together to ensure the elderly, the poor and the disabled continued to receive the critical medications they depend upon. Today, we again stand united to protect the neediest Californians while the federal government continues to work out the glitches in the new Medicare prescription drug program. I applaud Governor Schwarzenegger for showing strong leadership to defend the most vulnerable in our state during their time of need," added Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. SB 1233 continues the emergency program established in January to ensure the nearly one million Californians dually eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare are capable to receive the medications they need. Specifically, this legislation: - Authorizes Governor Schwarzenegger and the Department of Health Services to be the payor of last resort for dual eligible unable to get their medications through the Medicare program to ensure no dual eligible leave the pharmacy without their needed preparation drugs.
- Continues the 30-day emergency program the state recognized on January 12 for an additional 30 days.
- Provides the Governor with the authority to enact two additional 30-day extensions, in the event they are needed, for a total of 90 days.
- Provides the Department of Health Services the authority to seek repayment from the federal government and the Medicare Part D plans for the cost of this crisis action.
The $150 million the Legislature allocated under AB 132 to fund this emergency program will be used to continue to support it. The federal government has committed to reimbursing states for these costs through February 15, 2006. Today Governor Schwarzenegger sent a letter to United States Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt requesting the federal government extend this reimbursement period for as long as it takes to ensure Californians have access to the medications they need and also reimburse states for the full cost of Medicare co-payments.
In addition, the Governor asked the Secretary to provide states with the data necessary to accurately assess whether or not problems in the federal system have been determined and to take responsibility through the Well point drug plan for covering those continuing to experience problems so that states can end their emergency programs.
To receive reimbursement under this emergency program, a pharmacy must endorse that it was either unable to obtain necessary information from Medicare to submit a claim, its claim was incorrectly without or that the beneficiary's deductible or co-payment was higher than the $1 to $5 amount recognized by Medicare.
For decades, California's state and local governments have been promising their workers health insurance in retirement. But those same governments have never set to the right money to pay for these benefits or even bothered to tally up how much that assure might cost future taxpayers. Now somebody is finally doing the math. And it's clear that the cost of commitments already made is going to lead to serious cuts in services, tax increases or both. With government workers retiring earlier and living longer, the cost of their health care is growing, fast. And it cannot be sustained under current conditions. The leading edge of this crisis _ and that overused word actually applies here _ is already upon us. The cost of paying for health care for retired state workers has more than tripled in the past decade and is currently approaching $1 billion a year. But that is only the beginning. A review by the state's nonpartisan legislative analyst suggests that the long-term costs of health care in retirement for state workers who have already been promised that benefit will exceed $40 billion and possibly reach as high as $70 billion. If the state were to set aside enough money now to pay for those benefits, rather than saddling future generations with that trouble, it would cost about $6 billion a year. That's the equivalent of the entire taxpayer cost for the University of California and the California State University systems combined. There is no way, given the current financial condition of the state that lawmakers will vote to bank that much money for the future. But if they don't, the eventual cost of the benefits threatens to overcome future taxpayers. At some point, we'll have to pay the bill. Part of this problem is out of the state's hands: Health care costs are rising for everybody, retired or not. But a big part of it can be traced directly to decisions made by state policymakers. First was the idea of providing health insurance for people who retire before they turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare. This put public employees in a fortunate class different from most of their peers in the private sector, and opened the door to ever-expanding costs. That decision was compounded by changes in pension benefits in the late 1990s that made it easier for workers to retire as early as age 50 for public safety employees and 55 for everybody else. Now, many state workers are quitting while they are still relatively young and getting full medical benefits paid by the taxpayers for a decade or more before they qualify for Medicare. Combined with the natural demographics of the current state work force, those policies have resulted in an increased rate of retirements, with the retired work force expected to grow by 4 percent a year over the next 10 years. That will lead to continued, double-digit increases in the cost of providing their health care. There is little or nothing that can be done about the costs for those workers who already have been promised this benefit. The benefit is considered delayed compensation, meaning it already has been earned and cannot be taken away. Nor should it be. But the state needs to stop making this same, invalid promise to future hires. The most obvious option would be to simply stop promising health care for life to new employees. The central Medicare system is there for the rest of us, and workers who do not think they will be happy with it are free to set aside their own money to pay for supplemental insurance. A second, less draconian change would be to offer supplemental health insurance for retirees but only after they turn 65, or 55 for public security workers. That way, anyone who wanted to quit early would have to bear the financial burden of that decision themselves. In the meantime, though, policymakers are going to have to tackle the cost of the promises already made. And the state government is not the only one on the hook. The quasi-independent University of California provides even richer benefits than the state, though they are explicitly not guaranteed forever by contract, and its costs are now about $200 million annually and rising. Many local school districts have promised benefits for life. The state's largest district, Los Angeles Unified, is one of them, and the district's future costs for those already promised the benefit are now estimated to be about $10 billion. Many cities, counties and special districts have similar plans, and the total cost of their guarantees may in the end exceed that for which the state is already on the fastening. New accounting rules that take effect for the 2007-08 financial year will force all of these governments to finally calculate the likely cost of the promises made and report them publicly. But the rules are silent on what the governments are to do about their unfunded obligations. That's a political question, a huge one that is certain to emerge as a major challenge in the years further on.
None of the new brain stimulation gadgets hit that most worrisome of disorders, Alzheimer's illness. Quite simply and sadly, no one understands the snarl of neural circuits disrupted in the 4.5 million Alzheimer's patients well enough to figure out where to plant an electrical device that might fix them.Yet another kind of refreshment may help prevent the disease: physical exercise.
New studies indicate that what's good for your heart is also good for your head. Last month one showed that 15 minutes of walking, biking, or even stretching, three times a week, cuts the risk of dementia by at least a third. "And the nice thing is that we're talking about modest exercise, not two hours in the gym every day," says Dallas Anderson, a dementia expert at the National Institute on Aging.
Workouts have been shown to reduce other ailments of aging such as hypertension and heart disease. And several small studies have coded that benefits extend above the neck. They've linked lower exercise levels when people are first observed to higher rates of dementia many years later.But there's been a problem with connecting the research dots this way. Dementia starts finely, years before a clinical diagnosis.
Alzheimer's and major depression go hand in hand; a study published last week shows that patients with both diseases had exceptionally high amounts of brain damage. Brain and mood problems may lead people to dump things like exercise. So people who started out with low exercise levels may have already been sick--although researchers didn't know it--and they ended up sicker.
In other words, dementia affects exercise levels, not the other way around.The newest such research, however, went to great pains to avoid this problem. Eric Larson and his colleagues at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Wash., measured the mental health of more than 1,700 elderly people every which way to prepare out ailments.
After following them for six years, the researchers discovered that people doing modest but regular exercise were 30 to 40 percent less likely to develop dementia than nonexercisers.Exercise might keep people from losing their minds as it keeps them from losing heart: by improving circulation. It reduces the chances of blood vessel blockage. And exercise might even foster the growth of new brain cells just as it promotes cell growth elsewhere in the body, Anderson suggests.
Brainteasers. What about mental workouts? Keeping your brain sharp with things like crossword puzzles and Sudoku has become a popular notion. But "I think this idea may have been oversold," says Marga, a psychologist specializing in dementia at the University of Southern California. "There are hints, but the evidence isn't very solid."Oft-cited long-term studies of nuns, for example, link better lettering skills as young adults to lower Alzheimer's rates 50 years later.
But they may have had higher IQs to start with, or better social relationships to reduce stress, or been more physically active--all sorts of factors that may brace the brain. "It may, in fact, be a whole collection of things that helps," says Rose l, a gerontologist at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Focusing on something like a puzzle may miss the larger picture--and all of the health benefits.
Teens are getting help off the couch and into physical fitness with the teaming of 24 Hour Fitness Facilities and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. 24 Hour Fitness is offering almost an entire semester of workout time to those teens who make a pledge to physical health, but so far very few local students are taking advantage of the new program.
According to Kenny Rogers of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, high school students from 14 years old to 18 can sign up online to get the four-week governor challenge. "They [teens] must be active 30 to 60 minutes a day for four weeks," Rogers said.
The program has been up and running since the first of January. As of press deadline this week, La Cañada High School had no one registered, only one Crescenta Valley High School student had registered, and just five from Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta are taking advantage of the offer.
The agreement is strictly on the respect system, no teacher or parent needs to sign a daily workout program. After signing up on line the teen will receive a four week "Teen Fitness Pass" that allows them to go to a 24 Hour Fitness facility near them. After completing the first four weeks teens can then choose to download a free 90-day pass.
The program is part of Schwarzenegger's plan on battling the ever growing problem of fatness in children. Obesity is a problem faced by Californians, young and old, not only with the individual health but with rising health costs to the state, Rogers said. "The governor has said that we [citizens of the state] have gained 360 million pounds," Rogers said.
According to statistics 41 percent of California teens meet minimum daily necessities for physical activity. In the last 30 years the rate of childhood obesity has doubled for children between the ages of 12 and 19.
In September Schwarzenegger held a summit on health and fitness. The chief executive officer of 24 Hour Fitness, Mark Mastrov, attended that meeting and prepared a commitment to support the Girls and Boys Clubs and to the governor through this free teen pass program, Rogers said. The hopes of the program are to get teens into a healthy practice of working out.
The costs of today's teens being inactive is massive, in light of the probable for getting type two diabetes as they age, Rogers said. "These teens are our future. In all likelihood if you are inactive as a teen you will be inactive as an adult," Rogers said. He added that getting used to a workout routine will help the teens grow into healthier adults with less illness, building a stronger work force and stronger California. Schwarzenegger knows the cost to the state through health problems but also understands the advantage of physically fit.
"It provides self esteem to the individual," Rogers said of regular exercise. "It also helps students do better in school. "To register high school students, go online to www.calgovcouncil.org/register to take the four-week Governor's Challenge and print the free "Teen Fitness Pass."
Free passes can be picked up at 24 Hour Fitness facilities between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Students need to call the selected facility to set up a pass opening appointment. A parent or guardian must accompany the student on their initial visit to the sign a liability waiver. 24 Hour Fitness facilities in the area are in Glendale at 240 N. Brand Blvd. and 450 N. Brand Blvd., and in Pasadena at 465 N. Halstead St. and 525 E. Colorado Blvd.
California AB356
Chan
This legislation was introduced by Wilma Chan (D-Oakland CA) that requires an employer, employee association or other entity that provides hospital, medical or surgical expense coverage that a former employee may continue under federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA to be made aware that individual health insurance typically requires a review of medical history that could result in a higher premium or could be denied coverage.
This legislation was passed on October 5, 2005 and becomes effective for plans that renew on or after July 1, 2006. Therefore, prior to July 1, 2006, our Continuation Notice and Conversion Notice will include the appropriate language for our COBRA clients.
Infinisource will be coming to Southern California to conduct a
COBRA Liability & Regulations Review
to also include new HIPAA Portability Regulations
The seminars will be held February 21 in San Diego at the Courtyard San Diego Old Town, February 22 in Pasadena at the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel and February 23 in San Bernardino at the Hilton San Bernardino from 9:00-3:00pm. This seminar will cover all you need to know about COBRA including the 2004 Final COBRA Regulations, and will also include the 2004 Final HIPAA Portability Regulations. You can call 800-300-3838 to register with a real person, and use the code ML-KK. Or, you can go on-line to www.benefitsolved.com to our Seminar's page and register there using the code ML-KK. I encourage you to invite as many clients as you can as these laws affect their liability daily. To accomplish this, I have attached a marketing piece that you can either e-mail to clients, or print and use "snail-mail", to attend this seminar at a low rate through you. For every three clients you have attend, one agent from your agency goes free! You can't beat it-because you also receive up to 6 CE credits.
Karen L. Kirkpatrick
Subject Matter Expert
Infinisource, Inc.
Direct: 866-350-3040 x 1272
Fax: 517-278-0764
kkirkpatrick@benefitsolved.com
www.benefitsolved.com
DISCLAIMER
The content of this correspondence was not drafted by an attorney or a certified public accountant, and may not be relied upon as legal or accounting advice. You should seek the services of an attorney and accountant for all legal and accounting advice. This correspondence is based on the facts presented to us. Any change in the facts, or additional facts, may change our response.
The owner of St.louis Cardinals is caught by a insurance company when he making a false claims about contamination on the land its new stadium and he claimed the insurance company to pay around $15 million dollars to cleanup cost.
SLC Holdings and the cardinals they don't want to repay the clean up cost and expenses
subject to petroleum, heavy metals and other materials.
In fact, the company said, environmental audits and studies had been completed in 1995 and 1996 which disclosed the presence of environmental conditions that would have been relevant to the policy.
The audits noted environmental concerns at the bus lot site due to historical usage which included gasoline service stations, chemical manufacturing and an electric company, the lawsuit said
New Zealander Scott Pickering is appointed as a chief executive of its new South African operation, says Insurance group, ACE.
At present the company's country manager in New Zealand is Mr. Pickering. will be based in Johannesburg from early February, to get the business running there by April.
Michael Poole taken the company's general manager in New Zealand .
Mr Pickering joined ACE in 1999 after it took over the international operations of the Cigna insurance company, the Insurance Journal website reported yesterday
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