Health Program

Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who left the team a month ago to enroll in Major League Soccer's substance abuse and behavioral health program, was back on the training field Tuesday. But it's unclear how long it will be before he can play again. Saunders, who held the Houston Dynamo scoreless in last November's MLS Cup final, said he was not being treated for drug or alcohol abuse, attributing his absence to personal issues. "I was under some stress," said Saunders, 31, who started this season as a starting keeper for the first time in his eight-year MLS career.

Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who left the team a month ago to enroll in Major League Soccer's substance abuse and behavioral health program, was back on the training field Tuesday. But it's unclear how long it will be before he can play again. Saunders, who held the Houston Dynamo scoreless in last November's MLS Cup final, said he was not being treated for drug or alcohol abuse, attributing his absence to personal issues. "I was under some stress," said Saunders, 31, who started this season as a starting keeper for the first time in his eight-year MLS career.

Hundreds of Ventura County employees will receive bonuses this month for taking part in a health program that encourages them to quit smoking, lose weight or participate in other health-saving activities. Under the county's Reach Out for Wellness Program, employees earn points for being examined for problems such as high cholesterol and high body fat, said program administrator Susan Heller.

Goalkeeper Josh Saunders will be lost to the Galaxy for an indefinite period after being enrolled in Major League Soccer's substance abuse and behavioral health program. The Galaxy was informed Friday that Saunders would be unavailable to play until he completes a treatment protocol. Team officials insisted Tuesday that Saunders did not fail a league-administered drug test but have been evasive in explaining his absence. Saunders missed Saturday's tie with FC Dallas and is unavailable for Wednesday night's match in Seattle, with Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena saying only that the keeper was missing for "personal reasons.

Orange County long has had problems delivering health care to the poor, from the days when the county-owned hospital continually lost money to recent years when people waited until their health deteriorated to crisis level before seeking help. That meant higher cost for treatment in an emergency room than a preventive visit to a doctor's office. For their part, doctors treating poor patients complained about low payments from Medi-Cal, high paperwork loads and a daunting bureaucracy.

Goalkeeper Josh Saunders will be lost to the Galaxy for an indefinite period after being enrolled in Major League Soccer's substance abuse and behavioral health program. The Galaxy was informed Friday that Saunders would be unavailable to play until he completes a treatment protocol. Team officials insisted Tuesday that Saunders did not fail a league-administered drug test but have been evasive in explaining his absence. Saunders missed Saturday's tie with FC Dallas and is unavailable for Wednesday night's match in Seattle, with Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena saying only that the keeper was missing for "personal reasons.

A class-action lawsuit seeking to improve healthcare for poor children in Cook County is scheduled to go to trial this week -- 12 years after it was filed. The suit contends that Illinois has violated federal law by failing to ensure that poor children receive appropriate preventative medicine, from immunizations to tests for lead in their blood.

While most everyone agrees that public safety should have a high priority in the allocation of our tax dollars, this funding should be balanced by an investment in the social fabric of a community. It gives little comfort to citizens to be safe from violence while having their quality of life deteriorate in other ways.

As Congress approaches final votes on the proposed balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution, battle lines are already forming around one of the government's costliest and fastest growing programs--Medicare, the giant health program for the elderly. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), calling recently for a task force to "rethink Medicare from the ground up," has made it clear that the program will be one of the targets as legislators look for ways to balance the federal budget.

As Gov. Pete Wilson surrounded himself with poor children Friday to try to gain attention for a new health program he is backing, Bill Camp watched with disdain. Camp, a longtime Democratic activist who is president of the Sacramento city school board, wonders what this Republican governor, who says children are his top priority, has in mind.

California mental health officials on Wednesday detailed plans for a new Department of State Hospitals, a streamlined agency that they said would improve treatment and reduce patient violence at the troubled psychiatric facilities — as well as save money. The department, which will oversee the state's five mental hospitals and psychiatric programs at two of its prisons, is expected to replace the Department of Mental Health next year. The spinoff is the result of broader legislative changes intended to pass the department's other responsibilities — for community mental health care —- down to county governments.

Blue Shield of California says it will give customers in the state a $283-million credit on their insurance premiums, saying it is fulfilling a promise to return money to policyholders when its net income exceeds 2% of revenue. The action, on top of a similar $167-million credit announced in June and returned this month, was driven partly by the weak economy. The San Francisco nonprofit insurer says it has spent less than expected on claims because people have cut back on medical care.

To bring health insurance to more Americans, the federal healthcare reform law calls for billions of dollars in subsidies for lower-income households. The law gives states an option, though, that could cut costs while also making the coverage more affordable. Called a Basic Health Program, it would serve as a transitional step between Medicaid and the private insurance plans. A bill by state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) to create such an option in California is pending. Lawmakers should approve it. The program would give low-income families an alternative to the insurance exchange that California is creating for consumers not covered by employer-sponsored plans or MediCal.

Nearly twice as many Americans say it is more important to maintain the benefits from entitlement programs than it is to cut the budget deficit, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released Thursday, the day President Obama and top congressional leaders met to discuss budget and debt issues. The poll found that about three of every five Americans said they wanted to maintain Social Security and Medicare benefits while 32% said it was more important to take steps to reduce the budget deficit.

Rep. Dan Boren will not seek reelection from his conservative Oklahoma district, a move considered to be a serious blow to efforts by his fellow Democrats to retake control of the House of Representatives in 2012. The retirement was first reported by the Oklahoman newspaper and quickly confirmed by other media outlets. Boren, who will be 38 years old this summer, is scheduled to formally announce his decision at a news conference on Tuesday in his hometown of Muskogee. Boren becomes the first member of the House in this election cycle to announce he will retire rather than seek another office.

The woman slouched on the steps of the rundown motel, her hair mussed, her pinkish outfit rumpled, her expression perplexed. Health officials were combing the brick-facade building where she lived for bed bugs as part of a multi-agency raid, while police banged on door after door, hunting for ex-felons. Police Officer Patrick O'Bryan and state mental health counselor Randee Hill approached her. "How you doing?" Hill asked. "Not so good," the woman answered. Her room lacked plumbing and heat.

Big changes are often measured in small steps. Like the ones that will soon carry 11-year-old Luisanna Padilla from her home in this bustling corner of the Bronx into a hospital for a long-overdue operation. It's been five years since Luisanna's mother, Maria Valdez, first noticed that the girl was suffering from an unusual number of ear infections. Then a teacher observed that Luisanna was having trouble breathing when she spoke in class--and sent home a note saying she might need surgery.

Nearly twice as many Americans say it is more important to maintain the benefits from entitlement programs than it is to cut the budget deficit, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released Thursday, the day President Obama and top congressional leaders met to discuss budget and debt issues. The poll found that about three of every five Americans said they wanted to maintain Social Security and Medicare benefits while 32% said it was more important to take steps to reduce the budget deficit.

The largest domestic spending cut in U.S. history will upend almost every federal agency and slash programs dealing with healthcare, transportation and education, but will give the Pentagon an extra $5 billion, according to aides familiar with the negotiations. It preserves funding for some of President Obama's cherished initiatives, including the healthcare and Wall Street overhauls and his education program, Race to the Top. But four of the president's policy czars get the ax: healthcare, climate change, cars and urban affairs.

Anybody out there know what it would cost each and every Californian to keep teachers teaching, firefighters fighting fires and crooks in jumpsuits? We keep hearing about Gov. Brown's proposal to extend several temporary tax increases for another five years ? the sales, vehicle and income tax hikes approved by former Gov. Schwarzenegger ? but we don't hear much about the price. So I asked State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) over the weekend and one of his staffers sent me the breakdown.