California dangles bonuses for nursing homes that add staff

SACRAMENTO — California is revamping how it rewards nursing homes to get them to improve patient care. Rather than limit bonuses to top-performing facilities, the state will hand out additional Medicaid payments next year to nursing homes — even low-rated ones — that hire additional workers, reduce staff turnover, or improve quality of care. Facilities…

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California says it can no longer afford aid for COVID testing, vaccinations for migrants

by Don Thompson, Kaiser Health News ALL day and sometimes into the night, buses and vans pull up to three state-funded medical screening centers near California’s southern border with Mexico. Federal immigration officers unload migrants predominantly from Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, and Peru, most of whom await asylum hearings in the United States. Once inside, coordinators…

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In California, Democrats propose $25 minimum wage for health workers

SACRAMENTO — Union-aligned Democrats were set to introduce legislation on Wednesday, February 15 mandating a statewide $25 minimum wage for health workers and support staffers, likely setting up a pitched battle with hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis clinics. State Sen. María Elena Durazo’s bill would require health facilities and home health agencies to give raises…

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‘The country is watching’: California homeless crisis looms as Governor Newsom eyes political future

SACRAMENTO — Driving through the industrial outskirts of Sacramento, a stretch of warehouses, wholesale suppliers, truck centers, and auto repair shops northeast of downtown, it’s hard to square California’s $18 billion investment in homeless services with the roadside misery. Tents and tarps, run-down RVs, and rusted boats repurposed as shelter line one side of the…

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State declares citrus quarantine in Rancho Bernardo

THE California Department of Food and Agriculture has declared a new citrus quarantine in a 95 square-mile area of Rancho Bernardo after detecting a potentially threatening citrus tree disease during routine inspections. The bacterial disease, known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a major threat to San Diego’s $115 million annual citrus crop. Trees infected with HLB can produce…

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California Senate Republicans announce robust 2023 legislative priorities to fix California

SACRAMENTO – Joined by California families, homeless advocates, and small business owners who have been severely impacted by Sacramento Democrats’ misguided policies, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) and members of the California Senate Republican Caucus announced their legislative priorities which aim to cut costs, tackle crime, act on homelessness, invest in students…

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California recruiting more than 3,000 students for #CaliforniansForAll College Corps

California Volunteers is recruiting fellows from participating colleges for next academic years’ program, helping thousands of students pay for college by serving their community SACRAMENTO — On Wednesday, February 1, California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday and California Volunteers, Office of the Governor announced applications are now open for next year’s #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. More…

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Staying safe through California’s storms

WHILE California is known for its sunny days, it is hard not to notice the recent storms that have flooded the state. As the Filipino community is very much a large presence within California and with family as a core center of tculthe ure, the storms and their impact have left many of us wondering…

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California has a lot to offer storm victims

By Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services During a calm between storms, officials from the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and the state departments of Public Health, Social Services and Insurance gathered to discuss efforts to help Californians recover from the “atmospheric rivers” that have deluged the West Coast. The Jan. 17 media briefing, “Staying Alert…

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Senate Minority Leader Jones announces deactivation of TikTok accounts amid national security concerns

Leader Jones calls on Governor Newsom to follow national bipartisan efforts and deactivate his account SACRAMENTO – Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) and members of his California Senate Republican Caucus on Wednesday, January 18 announced the deactivation of the leader’s TikTok account as well as the TikTok account used by the caucus. Top national security…

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California Attorney General sues drugmakers over inflated insulin prices

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday, January 12 sued the six major companies that dominate the U.S. insulin market, ratcheting up the state’s assault on a profitable industry for artificially jacking up prices and making the indispensable drug less accessible for diabetes patients. The 47-page civil complaint alleges three pharmaceutical companies that control the insulin market…

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Rob Bonta sworn in as California Attorney General

Bonta shares plans for 2023 CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta was sworn in as the state’s top prosecutor at the California Museum in Sacramento, marking the start of a full four-year term. In his inaugural address on Friday, Jan. 6, Bonta — the first Filipino American to hold the position — honored the diverse leaders…

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Commissioner Ricardo Lara alerts Californians about coverage for floods and mudslides caused by wildfires

Issues Notice to insurance companies that damage is covered if caused by a wildfire LOS ANGELES — With powerful winter storms increasing the threat of mudslides, especially for people in wildfire burn areas who are even more vulnerable, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a formal Notice to insurance companies reminding them of their legal duty to cover damage from any future…

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2023 brings new insurance protections for California consumers

SACRAMENTO — Beginning January 1, 2023, Californians will benefit from newly created consumer protections as eleven new state laws sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara this past legislative session take effect. The new laws address climate change, expand health access and reproductive care, preserve health protections, protect against fraud, and ensure public safety. “Protecting consumers…

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