News Archive

After 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 Care

California tribes and mental health professionals look to improve crisis hotline experience for Native Americans

March 23, 2023 | Kate Wolffe

The 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.

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Health Care

Prescription for housing? California wants Medicaid to cover 6 months of rent

March 22, 2023

Gov. 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 Care

Medicaid renewals are starting. Those who don't reenroll could get kicked off

March 21, 2023

With 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 Care

California enters a contract to make its own affordable insulin

March 20, 2023

Under 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 Government

California’s Covid misinformation law is entangled in lawsuits, conflicting rulings

March 19, 2023

A 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 Care

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

March 17, 2023 | Kate Wolffe

Two 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 Care

Two counties square off with California over mental health duties

March 16, 2023

The 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 Care

Black patients dress up and modify speech to reduce bias, California survey shows

March 12, 2023

Many 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 Care

California will cut ties with Walgreens over the company's plan to drop abortion pills

March 7, 2023

California 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.

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