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A survival kit for journalists covering the health beat from ReportingonHealth.org.
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THE HEALTH BEAT SURVIVAL KITWhat you need to know to cover
health in your community
WHERE TO FIND THIS PRESENTATION
YOUR HEALTH CARE UNIVERSE (PART 1)
- Health providers (doctors, nurses, unionized health workers, health profession students)
- Health care institutions (community clinics, hospitals, large medical groups, nursing homes)
- Health payers (private insurers, Medicare, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families)
- Health consumers (you and your audience)
YOUR HEALTH CARE UNIVERSE (PART 2)
- Health providers (doctors, nurses, unionized health workers, health profession students)
- Health care institutions (community clinics, hospitals, large medical groups, nursing homes)
- Health payers (private insurers, Medicare, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families)
- Health consumers (you and your audience)
Who you gonna call?
SOURCES: NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL
• Community clinics
• Community activists
• Neighborhood associations
SOURCES: CITY LEVEL
• City public health department – large cities have their own, counties serve smaller towns
• Planning and Zoning – can affect hospital or clinic expansion/closures
SOURCES: COUNTY LEVEL AGENCIES
• County public health department – serves smaller cities and unincorporated areas
• Environmental Services Department – (West Nile, contaminated fountains, etc.)
• Planning and Zoning – can affect hospital or clinic expansion/closures
• Mental health services agency
SOURCES: COUNTY LEVEL PLAYERS
• School–based health clinics and nurses• County Medical Association or Society –
organization of local doctors• Community Clinic Association/Consortium –
lobbies for and supports local clinics• Area Agency on Aging – deals with Medicare,
elder abuse issues• HICAP Health Insurance Counseling Assistance
Program – helps Medicare patients
SOURCES: STATE AGENCIES
• Department of Managed Health Care – regulates HMOs• Department of Insurance – regulates other forms of
health insurance• Health and Human Services Agency – oversees health
and social services departments• Department of Public Health – deals with outbreaks,
food safety, TB, immunizations, etc.• Department of Health Care Services (administers Medi-
Cal, oversees hospitals)
And more state agencies…
• Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development – state think tank, data bank
• California Medical Board – oversees doctors• California Nursing Board – oversees nurses
SOURCES: THE FEDS
• Regional Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services – investigates fraud, nursing homes, hospitals treating Medicare patients
• Regional Health and Human Services office –hospital inspection reports
SOURCES: OTHER PLAYERS
• Malpractice lawyers• Calif. chapters of specialty boards • California Nurses Association – represents
registered nurses• SEIU Locals – represent nursing aides, health
technicians, hospital janitors• Think Tanks: California HealthCare Foundation,
Kaiser Family Foundation
SOURCES: ADVOCATES/LOBBYISTS
• Health Access – advocacy group• Consumer Watchdog – advocacy group• California Primary Care Association - represents
600+ community clinics• California State Rural Health Association –
represents rural clinics and hospitals• California Medical Association – represents
interests of doctors
Got all that? Good.
Any questions?