1501 S Capitol Way Rm 102
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone 360-754-0207
Fax 360-956-0362
info@waseniorlobby.org
www.waseniorlobby.org
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Background:
The State of Washington administers Health through the Department of Health (DOH) which works with its federal, state and local partners to help people in Washington stay healthy and safe. The programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide education to help people make good health decisions and ensure the state is prepared for emergencies.
Along with the state Department of Health, Washington's public health system includes 35 local health jurisdictions (serving 39 counties), the Board of Health and other partners.
The Washington State Board of Health is a 10-member Board of Health and provide a citizen forum for the development of public health policy. It recommends strategies and promotes health goals to the Legislature and regulates a number of health activities including drinking water, immunications and food handling. The Board of Health is an independent entity from the DOH.
In addition, DOH works with many health partners including the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine; American Indian Tribes and urban Indian health programs; hospitals and clinics, state and local community-based organizations, associations and coalitions. It also has close working relationships with federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health.
For more information, please click on Department of Health
The Seattle Times - Series - By Michael J. Berens and Ken Armstrong, Seattle Times staff reporters
Part 1: State pushes prescription painkiller methadone, saving millions but costing lives. To cut costs, Washington steers Medicaid patients to narcotic painkiller that costs less than a dollar a dose. The state insists methadone is safe. But hundreds die each year--and more than anyone else, the poor pay the price. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016987032_silent11.html
Part 2: New state law leaves patients in pain
Part 3: In pain clinic's wake: doubts, chaos, deaths
Our long-term budget problem is primarily about two things; a shortage of revenue and rising health-care costs, see Health care without demagogues
Fewer oppose health plan http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/17/1509226/fewer-oppose-health-plan.html
State withdraws Medicaid coverage for oral care
Washington State Hospitals Post Surgery Infection Data
The Washington State Hopsital Assoc. is now posting hospital-by-hospital surgery infection data online, please click on Surgery Infection Data Hospital Infections Site: www.wahospitalquality.org/
Rare Sharing of Data Leads to Progress on Alzheimer's
Obama's Medicare pick is just what the doctor and patient ordered
Putting Americans In Control of Their Health Care
What will health reform mean for you, click on Health Reform
What Happens Next
Parts of the Health care plan won't be fully phased in for a decade, but ultimately 94 percent of the elgible americans would have coverage, see timeline of some changes
Getting on With Life After a Partner Dies
Personal Health by Jane E. Brody, The New York Times, Tues, June 15,2010, After Partner Dies
Gov. Gregoire creating 'health cabinet'
Gov. Chris Gregoire said she is creating a 'Health Care Cabinet' to make existing state programs work with the new federal health-care law and a plan to bring its dollars into Washington State as soon as possible, see Health Cabinet
Washington State pushes to boost Medicare Payments, see Medicare Payments
How to Train the Aging Brain
Can an old brain learn, and then remember what it learns? As it happens, Yes. See Aging Brain
Growing Array of Tech Products Designed for Older User
It's like learning a new language, see Tech Products
Health Care Resources
Kaiser Family Foundation, helpful side-by-side of House and Senate proposals, click on KFF
Commonwealth Fund, click on Commonwealth
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, click on RWJF
Overdose Deaths Involving Prescription Opioids Among Medicaid Enrollees -- Washington, 2004-2007
During 1999-2006, the number of poisoning deaths in the U.S. nearly doubled, from approx 20,000 to 37,000, largely because of overdose deaths involving prescription opioid painkillers, see Overdose Deaths
Self-Management Programs: One Way to Promote Health Aging
Chronic illnesses often accompany the aging process. Many of the nation's leading health-care experts are recommending a combination of clinical and community-based interventions to address the growing prevalence of chronic conditions, see Healthy Aging
Best Choice to Dispose of drugs: Pharmacists
see Best choice to dispose of drugs
The Patients Doctors Don't Know
American medical schools require no training in geriatric medicine. See Geriatric Patients
Are you working to prevent falls by older adults?
Then you know how important exercise is - a free Web site to help you find local physical activity programs for older adults, Active Options
Nutrition
Senior Nutrition
The Joy of Eating well and Aging well, see Senior Nutrition
Medline Plus, Trusted Health Information for You
U.S. National Library of Medicine and NIH National Institute of Health - see Nutrition for Seniors
USDA United States Dept of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Food Nutrition Information Center, see Consumer Corner - Seniors
Health Co-op Offers Model for Overhaul
Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, one of the country's few surviving health insurance cooperatives, has recently embraced electronic medical records and a collaborative model of primary care. For full article click Health Co-op
Who's Caring for the Caregiver?
If you are caring for an ailing loved one -- a parent, spouse, or a relative, you are not alone, see Who's Caring
Take Health Care into Your Own Hands
Learn How, see HealthCare.gov
