Health CareCalifornia coronavirus updates: Counties with universities saw population increases after students returned from pandemic closuresMarch 31, 2023After some of the nation’s most populous counties experienced significant population declines in 2021, overall patterns of population growth and decline are moving towards pre-pandemic rates according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 estimates.
Health CareCalifornia tribes and mental health professionals look to improve crisis hotline experience for Native AmericansMarch 23, 2023 | Kate WolffeThe national suicide hotline, or 988, is underutilized by Native people in California. The state’s leaders are looking to a Washington state model as a blueprint for change. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Health CarePrescription for housing? California wants Medicaid to cover 6 months of rentMarch 22, 2023Gov. Gavin Newsom is making a bold push for Medicaid health plans to provide more housing support. He argues it’s cheaper to pay for rent than to allow homeless people to fall into crisis, which requires costly care in hospitals, nursing home.
Health CareMedicaid renewals are starting. Those who don't reenroll could get kicked offMarch 21, 2023With a pandemic-era rule expiring this month, people on Medicaid will have to re-qualify to keep their coverage. Language barriers, housing instability and computer literacy could stand in their way.
Health CareCalifornia enters a contract to make its own affordable insulinMarch 20, 2023Under the $50 million deal, the state is partnering with drugmaker Civica to start making the new generic insulin later this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
State GovernmentCalifornia’s Covid misinformation law is entangled in lawsuits, conflicting rulingsMarch 19, 2023A state law says giving false information to patients about covid-19 constitutes unprofessional conduct for which regulators can discipline doctors. Vaccine skeptics, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., join civil liberties groups and others.
Health CareCalifornia could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additivesMarch 17, 2023 | Kate WolffeTwo California legislators want to eliminate chemicals present in thousands of grocery items, like candies and drinks, that are linked to health problems and are already banned in the European Union.
Health CareTwo counties square off with California over mental health dutiesMarch 16, 2023The state wants to stop paying Kaiser Permanente for treating severely mentally ill Medi-Cal patients in Sacramento and Solano counties and force the counties to take on the task. The counties’ leaders say they can't afford it.
Health CareBlack patients dress up and modify speech to reduce bias, California survey showsMarch 12, 2023Many Black patients also try to be informed and minimize questions to put providers at ease. “The system looks at us differently,” says the founder of the African American Wellness Project.
Health CareCalifornia will cut ties with Walgreens over the company's plan to drop abortion pillsMarch 7, 2023California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the state would halt business with Walgreens after the pharmacy giant agreed to stop distributing mifepristone in some red states amid legal pressure.
