Blog
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Study Examines Asthma Mortality by Industry and Occupation
In Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’s January 2018 edition an article examined asthma mortality rates by industry and occupation. Researchers analyzed “multiple cause-of-death data for 1999-2016 and industry and occupation information collected from 26 states” for persons aged 15-64 years old. In reviewing this data, researchers found the annual age-adjusted asthma death rate per 1…
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Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke and Ash: Lessons from California Podcast and Commentary Available
Medscape has published a podcast examining the health effects of exposure to smoke and ash following the devastating California wildfires of 2017. The podcast features Dr. Robert Glatter, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwell Health and attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, and Dr. John Balmes, professor of medicine at…
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Study Examines Link Between Prenatal and Early-Life Consumption of Fructose and Fructose-Containing Beverages and Childhood Asthma
An article released in the July 2017 edition of Annals of the American Thoracic Society examined the links between “intake of high fructose corn syrup sweetened beverages with asthma in school children.” In order to explore these associations, researchers looked at both “maternal prenatal and early childhood intake of sugar sweetened beverages and fructose” and…
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Governor Vetoes Bill Increasing Access to In-Home Asthma Services in California
Unfortunately, on Friday, October 13th, California Governor Brown vetoed AB 391 (Medi-Cal: Asthma Preventive Services). Without a doubt this is a setback to our efforts to increase access to proven and cost-effective asthma interventions. However, it’s certainly not the end of our work. In 2016 we engaged with the California Department of Health Care Services…
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Governor Signs Healthy Housing Bill AB 2362
AB 2362, by Assemblymember Kansen Chu, was just signed by Governor Brown! Co-sponsored by RAMP, the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) and the Center for California Homeowner Association Law, AB 2362 is a follow up to last year’s bill that requires landlords to provide tenants notification before self-applying pesticides. AB 2362 applies the…
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Celebrate Healthy Housing Victories!
Thanks to RAMP and its partners, two new healthy housing policies will reduce exposure to indoor asthma triggers, particularly in the low income communities and communities of color inequitably burdened by the disease. First, in August, Governor Brown signed SB 328, authored by Senator Ben Hueso and co-sponsored by the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers…
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Sign the Petition for Reducing Freight Pollution!
Have you noticed all those semi-trucks on our highways, container ships in our ports, and rail cars on our train tracks? These vehicles are transporting everything from food and electronics to clothing and building materials across California. But, because they rely on diesel fuel, they are also producing a lot of pollution, which causes thousands…
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Legislative Session Closes with Wins for Asthma and Clean Environments
Another Fall season and another California legislative session has come to a close. RAMP is proud of the advocacy work we have done with a variety of partners to improve the lives of people with asthma while making our communities healthier. RAMP supported five bills this year that were signed into law by Governor Jerry…
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We Need Your Voice to Support Improved Asthma Management!
A new rule recently issued by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has exciting implications for support for asthma management. Federal Medicaid regulations now allow for preventive services — including activities like asthma education — to reimbursed and carried out out by asthma educators, healthy homes specialists, or other community health workers, so long as…
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California Opportunities for Financing Asthma Prevention and Management
On October 7, 2014, RAMP hosted “California Opportunities for Financing Asthma Prevention and Management” in response to the exciting and challenging time for financing asthma prevention and management in the state. While there is a significant body of evidence about the effectiveness of asthma interventions, many are not routinely covered by health plans, including asthma in-home…
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Pest-Free Housing Win
We are thrilled to report that Governor Brown signed SB 1167 into law! California landlords cited for a pest infestation are now required to not only eliminate the pest, but also remediate any structural deficiencies associated with the infestation. By connecting pest infestations to the structural conditions that contribute to infestations such as cracks and…
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Mixed News as Various Asthma Policies Stall or Move Forward
Early summer is always a busy time on the funding front, and this year is no different. Policy makers at the state and federal level are considering budget proposals and legislation that can, for better or worse, impact asthma in the months and years ahead. Here’s a brief run-down on some of the latest. First…