A survival kit for journalists covering the health beat from ReportingonHealth.org.

1. THE HEALTH BEAT SURVIVAL KIT What you need to know to cover health in your community

2. WHERE TO FIND THIS PRESENTATION

4. Health care institutions (community clinics, hospitals, large medical groups, nursing homes)

5. Health payers (private insurers, Medicare, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families)

7. Health care institutions (community clinics, hospitals, large medical groups, nursing homes)

8. Health payers (private insurers, Medicare, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families)

10. SOURCES: NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL Community clinics Community activists Neighborhood associations

11. SOURCES: CITY LEVEL City public health department – large cities have their own, counties serve smaller towns Planning and Zoning – can affect hospital or clinic expansion/closures

12. SOURCES: COUNTY LEVEL AGENCIES County public health department – serves smaller cities and unincorporated areas Environmental Services Department – (West Nile, contaminated fountains, etc.) Planning and Zoning – can affect hospital or clinic expansion/closures Mental health services agency

13. SOURCES: COUNTY LEVEL PLAYERS School–based health clinics and nurses County Medical Association or Society – organization of local doctors Community Clinic Association/Consortium – lobbies for and supports local clinics Area Agency on Aging – deals with Medicare, elder abuse issues HICAP Health Insurance Counseling Assistance Program – helps Medicare patients

14. SOURCES: STATE AGENCIES Department of Managed Health Care – regulates HMOs Department of Insurance – regulates other forms of health insurance Health and Human Services Agency – oversees health and social services departments Department of Public Health – deals with outbreaks, food safety, TB, immunizations, etc. Department of Health Care Services (administers Medi-Cal, oversees hospitals)

15. And more state agencies… Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development – state think tank, data bank California Medical Board – oversees doctors California Nursing Board – oversees nurses

16. SOURCES: THE FEDS Regional Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services – investigates fraud, nursing homes, hospitals treating Medicare patients Regional Health and Human Services office –hospital inspection reports

17. SOURCES: OTHER PLAYERS Malpractice lawyers Calif. chapters of specialty boards California Nurses Association – represents registered nurses SEIU Locals – represent nursing aides, health technicians, hospital janitors Think Tanks: California HealthCare Foundation, Kaiser Family Foundation

18. SOURCES: ADVOCATES/LOBBYISTS Health Access – advocacy group Consumer Watchdog – advocacy group California Primary Care Association - represents 600+ community clinics California State Rural Health Association – represents rural clinics and hospitals California Medical Association – represents interests of doctors

19. Got all that? Good. Any questions?