Tag: Health Reform

  • State Lawmakers Consider Medical Interpretation Bill

    By Megan Burks The meeting itself drove home the necessity of interpretation. Outfitted with headsets receiving signals from several interpreters, residents speaking seven languages met in City Heights Friday to coordinate a campaign to improve access to interpreters at doctors’ offices and hospitals. At the start, members of the Karen (Burmese), Somali, Somali Bantu, Eritrean…

  • Tweet City Heights: Can California Doctors Handle Surge in Medi-Cal Enrollment?

    By Megan Burks Can California Doctors Handle Surge in Medi-Cal Enrollment? State lawmakers gave an initial OK Thursday to expanding Medi-Cal under the Affordable Care Act. The expansion would extend Medi-Cal coverage to more than a million Californians next year, with initial costs being covered by the federal government. But doctors say they’re already struggling…

  • Tweet City Heights: Medi-Cal Rate Cut Approved Despite Growing Caseload

    By Megan Burks Medi-Cal Rat Cut Approved Despite Growing Caseload An appeals court ruled California can cut Medi-Cal reimbursement rates 10 percent. The rates are how doctors get paid for treating patients on the state’s public health program. KPBS reports doctors are livid and say the rate cut could impact access to care. Already, less…

  • Fighting for Translation: ‘The Whole World Looks Dark Because I Don’t Understand’

    By Megan Burks A group of City Heights refugees are sharing their experiences trying to navigate U.S. health care without consistent and effective translation. They’re asking their neighbors to sign a petition to get insurance companies to cover face-to-face translations. They say current phone lines set up to provide translations aren’t enough. Often, patients who…

  • Local Hunger Groups Screen Documentary Challenging Stereotypes About the Poor

    Jennifer Tracy, executive director of the San Diego Hunger Coalition, and Hannah Gravette, lead organizer for The San Diego Organizing Project discuss their screening of “The Line” 6:30 tonight at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 4227 Fairmount Ave. The film, funded by MacArthur Foundation and produced by Linda Midgett, shares the stories of people living…