Visit the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's
Website

October 2006
Click here to subscribe

One in five Californians uninsured, despite modest gains in coverage
Despite marginal improvements in job-based health insurance for adults and public program enrollment for children, one in five (6.5 million) Californians remain uninsured, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. A second study found that more than half of the uninsured children in California are eligible for public programs, but are not enrolled. The two reports rely on new data from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), as well as data from CHIS 2003 and CHIS 2001.

Health access for Mexican and Central American migrants working in the United States
This binational report describes the volume, trends, and characteristics of Mexicans and increasing numbers of Central Americans migrating to the United States. The study focuses on the availability of medical insurance coverage to these immigrants as well as their access to and use of medical services. Available in both English and in Spanish, the report was a collaborative effort by Steven P. Wallace, PhD, associate director at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and professor in the School of Public Health, and the California Policy Research Center based at the University Office of the President. It was published by the Regents of the University of California and The Mexican Secretariat of Health (SSA).

STD services in Medi-Cal managed care
This new report discusses the findings of a survey of HMOs, medical groups, and primary care physicians in Medi-Cal managed care conducted as part of a Medi-Cal chlamydia quality improvement initiative to assess STD recommendations and practices. Eight California counties with the largest numbers of Medi-Cal beneficiaries and largest numbers of chlamydia cases were surveyed. The research for this report was supported by the State of California through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Comprehensive Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Prevention Systems Grant. Additional support was provided by the California HealthCare Foundation.

Health DATA's Regional Covening held in Sept.
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's Health DATA program held a Data and Democracy Statewide Regional Covening on Sept. 22 in Oakland, CA. More than 70 community representatives and public health advocates attended the free event. The convening included information on using community assessments to address health needs and information on collecting and analyzing local health data. Opening remarks for the event were given by Center Director E. Richard Brown, PhD. The Data and Democracy Bay Area Regional Covening was funded by the California Endowment and the California Wellness Foundation.

AskCHIS facts
. Nearly 43 percent of children in the state under age 6 six participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).*
. More than 17 percent of California residents cannot afford dental care.*
AskCHIS gives you quick access to data on hundreds of topics related to the health of Californians. Customize your results to include the population that interests you the most. Go to www.chis.ucla.edu and click on the AskCHIS logo. It's free!
* Estimates derived from 2003 CHIS data.

CHIS making an Impact
A recent report by HealthyFresno, entitled, "Chronic Health Problems Among Fresno Area Children and Youth," uses CHIS data to show that children in Fresno county are behind children statewide in several health categories, including asthma and obesity.

Center and CHIS news
. E. Richard Brown, PhD, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research wrote an op-ed in the Press Enterprise on possible solutions to the state's health insurance crisis.
. Mona Jhawar, MPH, senior research associate at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research on Oct. 3 gave a presentation for a health planning group in Los Angeles' San Gabriel Valley that explored some of the health disparities in that community.
. The UCLA Social Sciences Initiative will host its inaugural symposium on Oct. 12 and 13,"Dreams Deferred, Denied, Realized: Confronting Inequality in Los Angeles." Steve Wallace, PhD, associate director at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, and researchers from the Center are among the list of presenters.
. Alek A. Sripipatana, MPH, research associate at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, will participate in an Oct. 13 roundtable forum during the California Elder Care Initiative Conference, hosted by the Association of African American Professionals, Inc.