The office of Attorney General Jerry Brown has dismissed an increasing number of criminal cases against defendants suspected of elder abuse, while cutting back on surprise inspections to investigate violence and neglect in nursing homes. A California Watch review of elder abuse prosecutions found Brown's office in sharp contrast with his predecessor, Bill Lockyer, who made similar cases a top priority during his two terms. In addition to dismissing abuse prosecutions already in motion, Brown's office has filed fewer new cases per year than Lockyer's office.
The American Prospect has done health reporters everywhere a huge service.
From Medicare scamsters to "biblical flu" to a simple walk to school, here's what we're reading today:
Q&A with Blythe Bernhard and Jeremy Kohler: Uncovering a teen’s death and a troubled health system
Patients are often misinformed about the details of their conditions or insurance status. Here are tips on how to get their narratives right.
Where does one go to find an insurance fraudster?
As with most stories, you need to think about the people connected to, or affected by, your subject, and the paper trail your subject may have left behind. I’ll start with the people and talk about the paper trail in later posts.
Dr. Manoj Jain takes a look at the patient doctor surveys that were conducted in Memphis and gives a doctor's point of view on choosing a primary care physician.
In Santa Ana, Calif., I used to live near a health clinic that ostensibly catered to Spanish-speaking mothers, a noble calling in big city with a large, underserved immigrant population.
Years before, in reporting a story, I had found that the obstetrician who ran the clinic had among the highest delivery rates in the county. "According to a database of county birth certificate information, he was delivering, on average, more than three babies a day, every day of the year.
Does anyone remember receiving healthcare in the 1960s? Everyone had affordable health insurance through their employer. All of the family was covered. Doctor visits were scheduled by whoever was in need of the care. That means, even if you were a 16-year-old and had the flu, you could still
Here’s what we’re reading today:
Fight the Bite: California reports its first human West Nile virus cases of the season, in what appears to be a late start to a mild West Nile season nationally. What’s happening in your community? For some resources and ideas for your coverage, check out this Accidental Wonk post.
