Decision conflicts with some other rulings; measure likely to be decided by Supreme Court
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

January 31, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – U.S. District Court Roger Vinson in Florida today ruled that it is unconstitutional to require people to have healthcare insurance by 2014 or pay fines. His is the fourth ruling on the insurance mandate provision; two have found it constitutional, while a Virginia judge found it unconstitutional. (All four cases are being appealed.) But Judge Vinson’s decision goes further than the Virginia ruling.
 

“Because the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, the entire Act must be declared void,” Vinson wrote in a decision that promptly sparked both praise and criticism.

Shocking numbers could be even higher if veterans were included

January 25, 2011 – Results of a new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry have found that 93 percent of soldiers contemplated suicide when they went without aggressive mental counseling in a controlled group.

Results of the study, conducted by the Army on 20,000 soldiers in Iraq, shows that 54 percent fewer soldiers contemplated suicide and the number of soldiers who needed to be sent home with mental health problems dropped by nearly 70 percent with more aggressive counseling in the field.

Senate leaders vow to block repeal--but a Virginia judge declares mandate to buy health insurance unconstitutional

By: Jeremy Los

January 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- House Republicans have stuck to their campaign promises and passed a measure to repeal the newly established health care bill. In what was a strictly symbolic vote, since the repeal will most likely die in the Democrat-controlled Senate and would not be signed by President Obama, the House Republicans have sent a strong message to the nation that they mean business.

Local Republican representatives Brian Bilbray, Darrell Issa, and Duncan D. Hunter fell in line with conservative cohorts, as every House Republican voted to pass the repeal. On the other side of the aisle local Democratic representatives Bob Filner and Susan Davis voted against the repeal.

January 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA), East County's oldest, community-based, non-profit organization dedicated solely to substance abuse prevention. The GHD board of directors recently voted unanimously to approve a grant of $49,000 to help fund CASA’s Students Together Against Alcohol ‘N Drugs (STAAND), a youth advocacy program.

January 5, 2011 (La Mesa) -- A volunteer citizens group monitoring construction projects financed by voter-approved public bonds at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa is looking for a new member to replace former member Robert “Bob” Ayres, who was recently appointed to the Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors.

December 16, 2010 (La Mesa)-- The Senior Resource Center at Sharp Grossmont Hospital offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources. Below are classes offered for January on a wide range of topics of interest to seniors.

December 9, 2010 (San Diego)--With the cold weather and chilly nighttime temperatures, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is reminding customers that safety should be a top priority in cold-weather heating.

Each week, 50 children are backed over by vehicles, resulting in serious injuries and deaths
 

By Miriam Raftery

December 5, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Department of Transportation this week proposed a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles.

“There hasn’t been an announcement this big since seatbelts and airbags were added to vehicles. We will no longer be backing up blindly,” Janette E. Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, said of the new safety standards proposed.

By Miriam Raftery
December 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The tragic death of Santee resident Bryson Lukacik points up the importance of knowing the danger signs following a head injury--and when to get treatment. 

Lukacik suffered a head injury while snowboarding but didn’t tell family members at first. He became disoriented and had a lump on his head before disappearing from a cabin in Big Bear where he and his family were vacationing. His body was found in the snow this morning.
 

If you or someone you know suffers a head injury, here are guidelines on what to watch for—and when to seek medical help.

November 26, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) --Before you pull out a ladder to put up holiday decorations or clean the attack, please read these holiday decorating and clean-up safety tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Proceeds from Grossmont Hospital Foundation gala supports heart and vascular center

Youth Learn Agricultural Business; Teach County Employees to Eat Healthy

November 12, 2010 (San Diego)--With Thanksgiving right around the corner, several San Pasqual Academy foster youth made their bimonthly delivery today of certified, organic produce to County employees to encourage them to eat healthier for the holidays, which is part of County’s year-round Build Better Health plan.

San Diego’s Poor and Vulnerable Communities to Benefit

National warning issued over Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese

November 5, 2010 (San Diego)--The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is warning the public not to consume Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese which is associated with a nationwide outbreak of E.coli 0157:H7 infections.