By Sammy Caiola, Capital Public Radio, December 9, 2019
California health officials want children and adults on Medi-Cal to get screened for traumatic childhood events that can cause negative health effects down the line. Now the state has started giving doctors and nurses tools to do the screenings.
People who experience adversity early in life have much higher chances of substance abuse, depression, or chronic diseases than their peers, according to national research.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2019 budget included more than $40 million to reimburse doctors who can screen Medi-Cal patients for certain traumatic events, known as “adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs. Examples include physical and verbal abuse, emotional neglect, or having a family member who is mentally ill, addicted or incarcerated.
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