Orange County Renews Focus On Mental Health Services Following Audit On Unspent Funds
A recent statewide audit found that mental health money from a tax on millionaires was going unused. The state issues a one-time pass on having to return the funds, which has counties scrambling.
KPCC:
Is Orange County Leaving Mental Health Dollars On The Table?
A recent state audit found that California counties were collectively sitting on an unused stash of $2.5 billion in funds from the Mental Health Services Act. The issue has taken front stage in Orange County, where officials are scrambling to provide housing and services to homeless people, some with mental illness, as part of a federal court settlement. (Replogle, 3/20)
In other public health news —
KPBS:
Number Of Americans With Alzheimer's Expected To More Than Double By 2050
More and more families across America are seeing their loved ones diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease — 5.7 million Americans are currently living with the disease and that number is expected to increase to 14 million by 2050. It’s an increase that health officials have expected for years, as the population continues to age. (Cabrera and Cavanaugh, 3/20)
KPBS:
San Diego's Medical Community Pushes Colorectal Cancer Screening
According to the Cancer Registry of California, the incidence of colorectal cancer in San Diego County declined by 10 percent between 2010 and 2014, while the mortality rate declined by 14 percent. However, the colorectal cancer screening rate among San Diegans who get their care in community clinics is only 46 percent. (Goldberg, 3/21)
Modesto Bee:
Second Wave Of The Seasonal Flu Crashes Into Stanislaus County
In general, the county Health Services Agency has noticed a decrease in flu activity, but another strain of virus is causing outbreaks and it’s more dangerous for young children. The county’s contagious disease unit is primarily seeing cases of influenza B, Anuj Bhatia, a county health services spokesman, said Tuesday. (Carlson, 3/20)