In October 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) legislation, SB 221, which requires health plans and insurers to provide patients with timely follow-up care for mental health issues and substance use disorders. That law goes into effect today – July 1, 2022.Previous laws in California required Health Maintenance Organizations (“HMOs”) and insurers […]
The National Center for PTSD, a program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, estimates that about 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after seeing or living through an […]
May has been selected as an awareness month to provide education and support for Mental Health.Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. Recognizing the increasing number of people […]
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that causes inflammation anywhere in the body and can affect any of your organs, the skin, and joints. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, there are an estimated 1.5 million Americans living with this disease and 90% of the people living with lupus are women. People with lupus […]
Every April marks National Parkinson’s Awareness Month in the United States. Parkinson’s disease (PD) occurs when brain cells that make dopamine, a chemical that coordinates movement, stop working or die. Because PD can cause tremor, slowness, stiffness, and walking and balance problems, it is called a “movement disorder”, but other non-movement symptoms also can be […]
Knowing Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical BillsOften, we hear from people who have received “surprise medical bills.” This blog will help you understand how you can avoid surprise medical bills, what protections you have against balance billing, and some tips to avoid balance billing altogether.What is Balance Billing?When you see a doctor or […]
March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness MonthMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that involves the central nervous system. The immune system attacks the protective covering around nerves, causing a disruption of communication between the brain and body. Among others, MS symptoms can commonly affect walking, vision, thinking, speaking, sensation, and memory. MS is unpredictable, and […]
March Is National Breast Implant Awareness MonthNational Breast Implant Awareness Month was founded in March 2018 to help women make informed decisions about breast implants and to educate them about the risks associated with all kinds of breast implants. By bringing resources to women that are not readily available elsewhere, National Implant Awareness Month hopes […]
National Eating Disorder Awareness WeekFebruary 21st-27th, 2022 marks National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness), which aims to raise awareness about eating disorders and support those affected by them. The goal of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is to shine the spotlight on eating disorders by educating the public, spreading a message of hope, and putting […]
An estimated 3.1 million adults (1.3%) in the United States have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is a broad term that indicates chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week was created in 2011 by U.S. Senate Resolution 199, “A resolution supporting the […]
