Starving seniors: How California’s aging are falling through the cracks
by Laura Ungar and Trudy Lieberman SAN JOSE, Calif. — In the neighborhoods around San Jose, more than 1 in 9 seniors struggle to get enough to eat. They are…
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California requires suicide prevention phone number on student IDs
by Mark Kreidler Denise Herrmann was only a few months into her new job as principal of a Palo Alto, Calif., high school in fall 2014 when a student took…
Trump administration hits brakes on law to curb unneeded Medicare CT scans, MRIs
by Phil Galewitz Five years after Congress passed a law to reduce unnecessary MRIs, CT scans and other expensive diagnostic imaging tests that could harm patients and waste money, federal…
Dealing with the lingering effects of a mass shooting
by: Anna Almendrala Veronica Kelley was working at an office building across the street from the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., in December 2015 when a county employee…
Surprise medical bill legislation takes a step forward, but will it lead to a step back?
by Rachel Bluth THE House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesda, July 17, approved its version of legislation to curb surprise medical bills. Though this step was an important advance,…
California broadens investigation of doctors for issuing questionable vaccination exemptions
by Barbara Feder Ostrov THE California agency that regulates doctors is investigating at least four physicians for issuing questionable medical exemptions to children whose parents did not want them immunized….
‘Medicare for All’ emerges as early divide in first Democratic debate
DURING Wednesday night’s Democratic presidential primary debate — the first in a two-night event viewed as the de facto launch of the primary season — health policies, ranging from “Medicare…
Democratic voters want to hear candidates’ views on health, but priorities vary
With the first Democratic debates a week away, health care is the top issue the party’s voters say they want candidates to address, according to a poll released on Tuesday,…
A proposal to make it harder for kids to skip vaccines gives powerful voices pause
by Anna Maria Barry-Jester AS California lawmakers attempt to tighten the rules on childhood vaccinations, they’re getting pushback from unexpected quarters: high-profile officials who support vaccines. In the past few…
How measles detectives work to contain an outbreak
by Jenny Gold ON any given day, more than 4,000 people pass through the library at California State University-Los Angeles. On April 11, one of them had measles. The building…
Churches wipe out millions in medical debt for others
by Roxie Hammill THE leaders of Pathway Church on the outskirts of Wichita, Kan., had no clue that the $22,000 they already had on hand for Easter would have such…
Why some CEOs figure ‘Medicare for All’ is good for business
by Phil Galewitz EASTON, Pa. — Walk into a big-box retailer such as Walmart or Michaels and you’re likely to see MCS Industries’ picture frames, decorative mirrors or kitschy wall…
California lawmakers push to stop surprise ER billing
by Ana B. Ibarra CALIFORNIA has some of the nation’s strongest protections against surprise medical bills. But many Californians still get slammed with huge out-of-network charges. State lawmakers are now…
How to find and use new federal ratings for rehab services at nursing homes
by Judith Graham FOR the first time, the federal government is shining a spotlight on the quality of rehabilitation care at nursing homes — services used by nearly 2 million…
California bans pesticide linked to develop mental problems
by Ana B. Ibarra / Kaiser Health News CALIFORNIA will ban the use of a widely used pesticide in the face of “mounting evidence” that it causes developmental problems in…
Surprise! Fixing out-of-network bills means someone must pay
By Julie Rovner / Kaiser Health News PRESIDENT Donald Trump called on Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation this year to end surprise medical bills, in remarks made in the…
A plan to cover immigrants would divert public health dollars
By Samantha Young/Kaiser Health News CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom wants the state to provide health coverage to low-income young adults who are in the country illegally, but his plan would…
Is insulin’s high cost keeping diabetes patients from taking their medicine?
by Shefali Luthra HIGH prescription drug prices are fast becoming a leading political topic, with medications like insulin emerging as a poster child for the issue. Nearly doubling in price…
Newsom: California leads on prescription drugs
by Samantha Young California regularly portrays itself as a national trendsetter on political issues, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is claiming that title on prescription drugs. Newsom has a plan…
The homeless are dying in record numbers on the streets of LA
by Anna Gorman and Harriet Rowan A RECORD number of homeless people — 918 last year alone — are dying across Los Angeles County, on bus benches, hillsides, railroad tracks…
Planned Parenthood’s ‘risky strategy’ to update its image
by Shefali Luthra and Anna Maria Barry-Jester PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Trump administration is pushing ahead with its reproductive health agenda. It has rolled out changes to the Title X…
Watchdogs cite lax medical and mental health treatment of ice detainees
by Sarah Varney It’s Saturday morning and the women of the Contreras family are busy in Montclair, Calif., making pupusas, tamales and tacos. They’re working to replace the income of…
Fixing surprise medical bill problem shouldn’t fall to consumers, panel told
by Rachel Bluth One point drew clear agreement Tuesday during a House subcommittee hearing: When it comes to the problem of surprise medical bills, the solution must protect patients —…
Trump administration changes course, asks court to strike down ACA
by Julie Rovner In a dramatic move that will have implications for the coming 2020 election, the Trump administration Monday night, March 25, reversed its previous position and asked a…
Crowd at CA Capitol demands immigrant health coverage
By Ana B. Ibarra and Harriet Blair Rowan | Kaiser Health News SACRAMENTO — “Vivan los inmigrantes!” echoed through the halls of the state Capitol on Wednesday as immigrants and…
‘Medieval’ diseases flare as unsanitary living conditions proliferate in Calif.
by Anna Gorman Jennifer Millar keeps trash bags and hand sanitizer near her tent, and she regularly pours water mixed with hydrogen peroxide on the sidewalk nearby. Keeping herself and…
California looks to lead nation in unraveling childhood trauma
by Anna Maria Barry-Jester Imagine identifying a toxin so potent it could rewire a child’s brain and erode his immune system. A substance that, in high doses, tripled the risk…
Americans cross border into Mexico to buy insulin at a fraction of US cost
by Bram Sable-Smith For one patient, a three-month supply of insulin is $3,700 in the US versus $600 in Mexico. But is it legal? When Michelle Fenner signed up to…
There’s a new ‘Medicare-for-all’ bill in the House
by Shefali Luthra MEMBERS of the House on Wednesday, February 27 offered their version of a “Medicare-for-all” bill that is broader than what’s been put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders…
Detention centers in California lack oversight and proper care, reports find
by Anna Gorman and Ana B. Ibarra Staff members at immigration detention centers in California delayed medical appointments for patients complaining of shortness of breath. They inadequately supervised suicidal youths….