The California Department of Consumer Affairs will be closed Friday, November 11, 2016, in observance of Veterans Day.
There are nearly two million veterans living in California, according to the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) website. Calvet strives to ensure that Veterans of every era and their families get the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve as a result of selfless and honorable military service. On Veterans Day—and every day—let’s continue pledging our full support for our Veterans and families.
For more information, including a list of Veterans Day events, visit https://www.calvet.ca.gov/vetday2016.
If you have grown weary of political-ad rhetoric and sound bites, take heed—Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. Here are a few last-minute guidelines before you vote:
- The California Secretary of State’s website (www.sos.ca.gov) is a great resource for election and voter information, including finding the location of your polling place and an official Voter Information Guide (www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov) in 10 languages.
- There are no fewer than 17 propositions on the ballot—ranging from recreational marijuana to single-use plastic bags—and the Secretary of State’s website breaks down each one with nonpartisan information that includes a summary, what your vote means, and pro and con arguments (www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/en/propositions).
- Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Personally delivered ballots must be delivered by close of polls on November 8; mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 8 and received by your county elections office no later than November 14.
- Multiple media reports have exposed a social media scam that claims to “save time, avoid the line” by texting your vote for president. Don’t fall for it— if you want your vote to count, visit the polls on November 8!
The generic version of a two-pack of EpiPen is now priced at $300—a price that’s better than the brand-name cost of $600 for this widely used allergic-reaction antidote. Buying the generic versus the brand-name is definitely the first step in saving money on your meds, but what else can you do to combat rising drug prices?
You may have more control over what you pay for drugs than you think. According to a January 2016 article by Consumer Reports, prices from retailers, especially large retailers like chain drugstores and big-box stores, can vary greatly. Shop around because drug prices can cost as much as 10 times more from one retailer to the next. Also, don’t avoid independent drugstores—they may actually have more flexibility to beat their competitor’s prices.
Surprisingly, drug prices are negotiable, so ask for a lower price—even with generics. Check sites such as GoodRx.com to do some comparison shopping and to also find out the fair market price. The website also gives you information about coupons, discounts, and how to save money at nearby pharmacies.
Be sure to ask your doctor to help you find a lower-cost alternative and have he or she give you a prescription for a 90-day supply versus 30 days, which can save you money as well. A 90-day supply allows you to pay one copay for 90 days instead of one for every 30, plus it saves you extra trips to the pharmacy.
This next tip may sound counterintuitive, but may be worth checking out. You may not want to always use your insurance to pay for your prescription drugs; you may get a better price if you pay out of pocket and if you sign up for a pharmacy’s discount plan (but read the fine print to understand all terms and conditions).
Check online for lower prices—with caution. Be very careful about which online pharmacy you choose—there’s plenty of fraud out there. Only do business with online pharmacies that display the VIPPS symbol—that indicates it’s a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site. Remember, if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Some drug companies and foundations offer financial assistance programs. Check Needymeds.org, a national nonprofit information resource that can help you locate assistance programs so you can afford your medications and other healthcare costs.
To learn more about how to save money when buying prescription drugs and for resources for medication discounts, visit the State Board of Pharmacy’s website at www.pharmacy.ca.gov.
Capacity crowds, lively interaction and solid ideas filled the rooms as leaders from the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation (BMCR) and the Department of Public Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis Safety (OMCS)—two of the agencies tasked with regulating the medical cannabis industry—held pre-regulatory meetings to gather feedback before drafting the new rules. Eight meetings were held across California, bringing together cannabis business owners, patients, law enforcement, local authorities and the public.
Bureau Chief Lori Ajax and OMCS Chief Asif Maan led the discussions. The meetings had two purposes: update stakeholders on the status of the regulatory framework development and collect specific input on general licensing as well as five major license types. The Bureau will license and regulate dispensaries, distributors, testing labs and transportation. OMCS will regulate manufacturers. (Cultivation will be regulated by the Department of Food and Agriculture, which held separate meetings.)
“We are seeking input from stakeholders throughout the entire regulatory process,” said Bureau Chief Lori Ajax. “We want to hear what’s important to them, learn how their businesses work and develop relationships. Our end goal is clear, concise, effective regulations that make sense for California.”
Break-out sessions at the meetings allowed attendees to participate in group discussions about possible components of the regulations, essentially the rules. Regulations further define components that already exist in law and specify the details of how the law will actually be implemented. For example, the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act requires all cannabis businesses to have security protocols in order to obtain a state license, however, the details of the security protocols will be determined through the regulatory process.
These pre-regulatory meetings followed statewide informational sessions hosted by the Bureau to gather preliminary feedback from stakeholders who shared their opinions and perspectives based on their experience working in and with the industry.
Click here for a brief outline of how the regulatory process works.
It’s anticipated that the first draft regulations will be published in early 2017.
Here’s how YOU can get involved:
- Sign up for email alerts through the Bureau’s website, and check the website for updates.
- Attend regulatory hearings, when scheduled.
- Submit comments and input during the public comment period by using the online public comment form at https://www.dca.ca.gov/webapps/bmcr/public_comment.php, or by email at comments@dca.ca.gov or by mail to:
Department of Consumer Affairs – Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation
P.O. Box 138200
Sacramento, CA 95813-8200
For more information, visit www.bmcr.ca.gov.
Covered California—the state’s marketplace for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—begins open enrollment today.
Californians who need health insurance will find new ways to shop for coverage and new ways to save in 2017, and more than 92 percent of consumers will have three or more health plans to choose from—none will have
fewer than two.
Also for 2017, most consumers will see a lower copay for their primary care visits, and urgent care costs in every plan will be the same as the primary care visit, helping consumers save up to $55 per visit. Consumers in Silver, Gold and Platinum plans will pay a flat copay for emergency room visits in 2017 without having to satisfy a deductible, which could help them save thousands of dollars.
These improvements for 2017 build on features already in place that help make care more affordable for Covered California enrollees. Most outpatient services in Silver, Gold and Platinum plans are not subject to a deductible, including primary care visits, specialist visits, lab tests, X-rays and imaging. Even consumers in Covered California’s most affordable Bronze plans are able to see their doctor or a specialist three times before the visits are subject to the deductible.
Three of Covered California’s 11 health plans are expanding their coverage areas and two new family dental plans have been added.
Consumers shopping for health coverage can get a wide variety of free support to learn about their options online, by phone, at community events and at more than 800 Covered California storefronts statewide. In addition, the Covered California bus will travel throughout communities in California to promote enrollment starting Nov. 12.
To learn about all the new offerings and see more details, read Covered California’s open enrollment news release here.
Consumers interested in learning more about their coverage options should go to CoveredCA.com or call (800) 300-1506.
And remember, if you’ve experienced a life-changing event, you may be able to sign up for a health plan during Special Enrollment even after the open enrollment period ends. Visit http://bit.ly/1BMTca1 for more information.
Did you know that 1 in 11 Americans today has diabetes? Despite its prevalence, diabetes is an invisible disease. It affects men and women, people young and old, and people of all races, shapes and sizes. Often there are no outward signs of the disease from the 29 million Americans who fight this chronic illness every day. That’s why there is a critical need to foster awareness and education while breaking down stereotypes, myths and misunderstandings about this growing public health crisis that affects so many of us.
This is exactly why the American Diabetes Association marks each November as American Diabetes Month: to bring extra attention to the disease and the tens of millions of people affected by it.
Diabetes is more than the medications and devices used to manage it. For many, diabetes dictates how they organize their day, what they eat at every meal, how they choose to be physically active and how they spend their money. People with diabetes can have health care costs that are 2.3 times higher than someone without diabetes, as type 1 and type 2 require very specific forms of treatment.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and there is no known way to prevent it. Approximately 5 percent of people with diabetes have type 1, which means their body does not produce any insulin. Insulin is critical in order for the body to transport glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into cells for energy. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to live.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of cases in the United States, and is caused when the body does not produce or use insulin properly. Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include being overweight, having a family history of diabetes and having diabetes while pregnant (gestational 
diabetes). Some people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose (sugar) with healthy eating and being active; others may require oral medications or insulin, especially as the disease progresses. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as older adults.
Some women develop gestational diabetes, high blood glucose (sugar) levels during pregnancy, which requires treatment to protect the health of the mother and the baby. Gestational diabetes affects approximately 9.2 percent of pregnant women.
This November, the American Diabetes Association will showcase real-life stories of friends, families and neighbors managing the day-to-day triumphs and challenges of diabetes. Through the use of social media, everyone is invited and encouraged to use #ThisIsDiabetes to share their personal stories and to begin a dialogue about what it means to live with diabetes.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) along with the Board of Registered Nursing, Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, Physician Assistant Board, Medical Board of California, Board of Podiatric Medicine, Board of Optometry and the Board of Pharmacy are proud to help promote the 2016 awareness campaign efforts of the American Diabetes Association.
DCA will run a social media campaign in support of the national awareness effort via Facebook, Twitter and its blog, The DCA Page.
To learn more and view #ThisIsDiabetes stories, check out diabetes.org.
The California Board of Podiatric Medicine (BPM) announces the appointment of Brian Naslund as its new Executive Officer, effective October 26, 2016.
If you are going all-out on a Halloween costume, complete with cosmetic contact lenses that make your eyes extra spooky, be aware of potential hazards from cheap, nonprescription contacts.
Wearing cosmetic contacts purchased at gas stations, flea markets, or costume shops—any place that doesn’t require a prescription—can damage your eyes in several ways, including corneal scratches, infections, and allergic reactions that can cause impaired vision or temporary or permanent loss of sight.
Selling cosmetic contacts without a state license is against the law, and businesses doing so are operating illegally. Out-of-state companies selling contacts on the Internet to residents of California must be licensed and are required to verify your prescription with your eye doctor.
Although the contacts are not intended for vision correction, it is still vital they fit your eyes correctly. If you don’t have a current prescription, you will need to have your eyes examined by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist; if you have a current prescription, your eye care professional can give you a copy.
Ophthalmologists are eye surgeons licensed by DCA’s Medical Board of California. They perform surgeries for problems caused by diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, and also treat eye diseases and prescribe corrective lenses. Optometrists are licensed by DCA’s State Board of Optometry. They conduct examinations for overall health of the eyes, screen for diseases, and also prescribe corrective lenses.
You can check Medical Board licensees’ records online at www.mbc.ca.gov, and State Board of Optometry licensees at www.optometry.ca.gov.
If you do get a prescription for cosmetic contacts, buy them from a licensed optometrist, ophthalmologist, or registered dispensing optician, and be sure to follow directions for caring for and wearing them properly.
California is known as “earthquake country” and for good reason.
There is an infamous 800 mile long crack otherwise known as the San Andreas Fault that travels along the state from the Salton Sea in the south, to Cape Mendocino in the north.
Although earthquakes occur daily in California, many go unnoticed. While some areas of California are more likely to have earthquakes than others, all of California is at greater risk compared to the rest of the country.
Shake Out Scenario:
You could be anywhere when an earthquake strikes: at home, at work, at school, or even on vacation.
It is not a matter of if the “big one” will occur, but when.
The Great California ShakeOut is happening this Thursday, October 20th at 10:20am.
Essentially a statewide earthquake drill, the ShakeOut serves as an annual reminder for all Californians to practice how to prepare and be safe during big earthquakes by remembering to “Drop, Cover and Hold On!”
The ShakeOut was organized to encourage you, your community, your school, or your organization to practice, review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies (see last month’s National Preparedness Month post), and to secure your space in order to reduce damage and injuries during an earthquake.
As residents of California, what we do now will determine our quality of life after our next big earthquake.
Are you prepared to survive and recover quickly?
For more earthquake preparedness information resources, please visit http://www.earthquakecountry.org/.
Did you know that not every graduate of a court reporting school works in a legal setting as a court reporter?
Photo by Pamela Powers
Contrary to its name, a degree in court reporting offers a broad selection of career choices. Well-trained court reporters can be highly sought after.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for CSRs will grow by 18 percent between 2008 and 2018, reflecting the demand for real-time broadcast captioning and translating. This growth rate is faster than the average for all occupations in that time period.
As technology continues to expand, so will the varied career options, allowing those trained in the discipline of court reporting to take their skills out of the courtroom and in to other industries such as television, web broadcasting and the captioning of live, in-person events and presentations. 
An individual trained in the discipline of court reporting can expect an annual salary range between $30,000 to $100,000 plus, flexible work schedule, the ability to work remotely and/or become their own boss without a four-year college degree.
PATH TO COURT REPORTING:
You must receive two to four years of technical training and be a graduate of a state-approved court reporting school. If you plan to work in California, you must have a Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) license administered through the Court Reporters Board of California.
You must also pass a qualifying examination which is comprised of a two-person live voice dictation for five minutes at 200-words-per-minute with an accuracy rate of 97.5% and a written exam in spelling (English), grammar, punctuation and terminology.
CAREER OPTIONS BEYOND THE COURT ROOM
Some court reporters, also known as certified shorthand reporters (CSRs), do function in the capacity of “official reporter” in a courtroom or during litigation-related sessions such as a deposition. Every word that is spoken during a judicial proceeding is captured verbatim by the official reporter in the form of a transcript (they turn speech into text), and they serve a very important role as the keeper of the courtroom record.
Photo by Norma Miller
But there are many more career opportunities for court reporters. Thanks to technology, millions of people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are able to effectively communicate by utilizing the aids and services provided by court reporters. This ever-expanding access to mass media is expected to increase and those with court reporting skills will continue to see career opportunities increase, beyond a legal setting.
Here are two of the most common in-demand services that court reporters can specialize in.
Photo by Peter Foley
CART – Communication Access Real-time Translation: By using a computer that translates as it goes in a process called Computer-Aided Transcription (CAT), the CART provider is able to send instantaneous transcripts directly to readers’ computer screens. CART eliminates the need for the deaf or hard of hearing to solely rely on lip reading or sign language and allows these individuals to participate in classroom lectures, business presentations, conventions, theater performances and concerts.
BROADCAST CAPTIONERS:
Photo by Jennifer M. Bonfilio
Broadcast captioners, also called stenocaptioners, use court reporting skills to caption live televised programs and events, via a process called closed captioning, for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Software that displays speech to text in real-time on the screen is used. Some broadcast captioners may translate dialogue in real time during broadcasts of televised news programs and sporting events; others may caption during the post-production of a program. Many of these broadcast captioners are front and center at sporting and entertainment events such as the U.S. Open, World Series, Super Bowl and Academy Awards!
As you can see, the possibilities are plentiful.
Interested in exploring further? The Court Reporters Board of California has career information and helpful resources available at www.courtreportersboard.ca.gov.