​Sometimes it’s easy to be skeptical about government, but I have to say California has worked with unusual foresight to secure its health-care system against political shifts in Washington. By expanding Medi-Cal to include all low-income residents, sustaining long-term funding through the managed care organization tax, and writing into state law protections for preventive services, reproductive care, and gender-affirming treatment, it has placed access to health care on firmer ground than most other states in the union.


The state has also partnered with its West Coast neighbors to provide independent, science-based vaccine guidance, ensuring consistency and trust in public health. At the same time, California’s legal leadership has defended Medicaid, Affordable Care Act protections, and patient privacy, often through multi-state coalitions. All in a bid to somewhat shield us from some of the unbelievably shortsighted federal actions being taken and proposed.


The result is a model of resilience: Californians can look to a health system designed not only to withstand political volatility but to embody a commitment to equity, access, and innovation. California demonstrates that with planning and resolve, health care can be somewhat protected as a right and a public good.


www.ruthhaskinsmd.com


#rights #ladydocfolsom #obgyn #ruthhaskinsmd

Today is International Day of Democracy, a good moment to look back at how the right to vote has expanded in the United States over time. It wasn’t granted all at once, hard fought, our democracy has grown slowly, slowly, step by step.

• 1776: The Declaration of Independence set the foundation, but in practice only property-owning white men could vote.
  
• 1865: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, clearing the way for the next step in political inclusion.
  
• 1870: The 15th Amendment prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, though many states later found ways to restrict it.
  
• 1920: The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, a major expansion of the electorate.
  
• 1965: The Voting Rights Act enforced protections for African American voters and outlawed many discriminatory practices.
  
• 1971: The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18, giving younger citizens a voice during the Vietnam era.
  
  
  

These milestones show how democracy in the U.S. has gradually broadened, bringing more people into the process. Marking Democracy Day is a reminder that the right to vote hasn’t always been universal but it has been built over time, through hardship, protests, war, amendments and legislation.


www.ruthhaskinsmd.com


#democracy #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd

​I’m sorry, I’m going to sound a little like a broken record… but this has to be said and repeated.
Vaccines save lives. That’s not opinion, it’s fact.

Despite RFK Jr.’s remarks leading us to believe otherwise, the data is overwhelming:
• Globally, vaccines have prevented 154 million deaths over the past 50 years — the equivalent of six lives saved every single minute (World Health Organization, 2024).
• In the United States, routine childhood vaccines since 1994 have prevented 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths: saving the country $2.7 trillion in societal costs (CDC, 2024).
• COVID-19 vaccines alone saved nearly 20 million lives in the first year of rollout (Lancet, 2022). In Europe, they reduced deaths by at least 57%, sparing 1.4 million lives (European CDC, 2023). In Latin America, they prevented up to 2.6 million deaths in 17 countries (PAHO, 2023).
So when Kennedy Jr. claims “nobody knows how many lives were saved” — and cuts $500 million from mRNA vaccine research,  it’s simply untrue, reckless political spin. It undermines and weakens trust, leaving millions vulnerable.

Honestly, I’m frustrated. In this day and age, it is incomprehensible that in the United States we are still forced to argue for vaccines. This conversation doesn’t play out in other Western democracies at a governmental level. They debate many things, but not whether life-saving vaccines work.
​
The truth is simple: vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest life-saving tools. Ignoring that doesn’t make it less true!


www.ruthhaskinsmd.com


#vaccinate #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd

​Hello, September! 


As the pace picks up with back-to-school, changing routines, and the shift into fall, it’s easy to put your own health on hold. But this season is a great reminder to pause, reset, and prioritize you.


Whether it’s time for your annual exam, a check-in on your reproductive wellness, or simply staying ahead of your health before the holidays, our team is here to support you with expert, compassionate care.


We’re proud to be your trusted partners in Obstetrical and Gynecologic health.


Call us or visit www.ruthhaskinsmd.com to schedule your appointment today.


#obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd