Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Modern Healthcare: Dignity Health Cuts 139 Jobs Across Two Hospitals
The San Francisco-based system plans to cut 82 employees at its California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles and 57 employees at its Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. (DeSilva, 7/7)
North Bay Business Journal: Napa Medical Malpractice Insurance Carrier The Doctors Company Buys Competitor For $1.3 Billion
The acquisition of the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, The Doctors Company, with ProAssurance Corp. is completed. (Quackenbush, 6/29)
Orange County Register: Ziggurat Building Has A New Owner — $207 Million Sale To Hoag Hospital Affiliate Is Announced
A Hoag affiliate has purchased the Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel, which means more than $207 million in revenue for the federal government, which has been trying to unload the property for three years. (Ritchie, 6/30)
KQED: SF Telehealth Executives Could Spend 20 Years Behind Bars For Prescription Fraud
The pair of conspirators face up to 20 years in prison over their scheme to fraudulently distribute Adderall, Vyvanse and other stimulants via their telehealth company. (DeBenedetti, 7/7)
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene Program Clears Compliance Issues
The Dental Hygiene Board of California has cleared Cabrillo College’s Dental Hygiene Program of several violations the board found in March. (Hemphill, 7/6)
Eagle & Times / Imperial Beach News: Former CO Of Naval Hospital Ship USNS Mercy Speaks At Roundtable
The Coronado Roundtable recently hosted Dr. Joseph Moore, former Commanding Officer of the USNS Mercy, the San Diego-based naval hospital ship. Moore shared insights into the Mercy’s medical missions alongside the complex geopolitical history of the regions it serves. (McClure, 7/3)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: 1940-2026: San Diego Remembers Dr. Brent Eastman, Pioneer Of Trauma Care
Surgeon's work in early 1980s proved that a more organized approach to the most severe injuries could save lives. (Sisson, 6/29)
The Guardian: An Outdoor Paradise In California Has A High Suicide Rate. Locals Are Determined To Turn It Around
Though the Lake Tahoe region has rates higher than the state average, residents are addressing a shortage of services. (Ramos, 7/5)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: For Years, This Chaplain Helped People Cope With Death. He Also Removed Brains
Joe Davis is retiring after serving 26 years as the volunteer chaplain for the county Medical Examiner's Office. (Kucher, 7/5)
The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat: Attempted Murder Charges Dismissed Against Radiologist Accused Of Driving Family Off Cliff Near Devil's Slide
A judge suggested Patel was "doing very well" in a mental health diversion program. (Rodgers, 7/6)
Morgan Hill Times: Garlic Festival Shooting Victims Can Apply For Compensation Until July 28
Victims of the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting and their families have less than one month remaining to apply for financial reimbursement from the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB). (6/30)
San Francisco Chronicle: Judge Blocks Trump DOJ From Collecting Trans Kids’ Records At Stanford
‘Bad-faith campaign’: Judge blocks Trump administration from collecting transgender kids’ records at Stanford hospital. (Egelko, 7/2)
Los Angeles Times: California Bill Aims To Help Discharged Transgender Troops
After a year of limbo, some transgender troops who opted to leave the U.S. military voluntarily are finally being released. A new California bill would protect those forced out with a less than honorable discharge. (Wolffe, 7/5)
Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment: An Activist Says He’ll Stand For Trans Rights, Even If He’s Standing Alone
Colin Campbell, a volunteer for Trans Youth LA, is determined to show Children’s Hospital its decision to reverse course on trans care won't be taken quietly. (Ivie, 7/6)
The Sacramento Bee: California Republicans Ask Trump Aides To Block New Tax
More than a dozen Assembly Republicans sent a letter Monday to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to ask the leaders to reject the tax for so-called managed care organizations. Gov. Gavin Newsom last month signed it into law, but it needs federal approval. (Hobbs, 7/7)
Los Angeles Times: 14 Propositions That Could Remake California Taxes, Housing, Healthcare And Elections
In addition to high-stakes U.S. House races, California voters in November will also weigh in on a slew of ballot measures. (Kwok and Nixon, 7/6)
CalMatters: California Considers Abortion Pills For Community Colleges
A proposed law would require community colleges with health centers to provide medication abortion for students. (Baltodano, 7/7)
Santa Cruz Sentinel: California Sen. John Laird Reveals Recent Skin Cancer Removal, Completion Of Treatment
California State Sen. John Laird revealed that he recently completed a series radiation treatments after two cancerous skin growths were removed from the top of his head. (Hattis, 7/6)
CalMatters: CoreCivic Sells 2 California ICE Detention Centers To Federal Government
Private prison company CoreCivic sold two California properties to the Department of Homeland Security. It will continue operating them as ICE detention centers. (Fry and Duara, 7/6)
The Fresno Bee: ICE Has Arrested More Than 400 From Central Valley Prisons Under Trump
ICE has arrested at least 422 individuals from Central Valley prisons and jails through administrative transfers since President Donald Trump took office. (Montalvo, 7/7)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: Routine Blood Testing Reveals County’s First Case Of Locally Acquired Chagas Disease
The kissing bug, associated with rodent nests in the United States, carries a parasite that can cause severe illness if left untreated. (Sisson, 7/6)
Victorville Daily Press: Mosquitoes In San Bernardino County Test Positive For West Nile Virus
San Bernardino County health officials are sounding the alert after the discovery of mosquitoes that tested positive for the West Nile virus. (De La Cruz, 7/2)
CIDRAP: One More Infant Sickened With Botulism In Outbreak Tied To Powdered Formula
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there are now four cases of infant botulism illnesses from three states, up from three last month. The new case is in California. California now has two cases, while Pennsylvania and Washington state each have one. (Soucheray, 7/7)
USA TODAY Network: Bacteria Found In Oribe Shampoo. What To Know About Recall
The beauty company Kao USA recalled its shampoo after detecting a potentially harmful bacteria. The shampoo was sold in California. (Moore and Ward, 7/7)
Sacramento Bee: A Third Of People Jailed In Sacramento County Are Homeless
Hundreds of Sacramento County homeless people are landing in jail each month. (Lange, 7/6)
CalMatters: Can Street Therapy Help Get Homeless Californians Housed?
Homeless Californians suffer from depression, anxiety and PTSD at high rates; street therapy can be life changing, but access is limited. (Kendall, 7/8)
The Washington Post: For Some Families, The Answer To The Housing Crisis Is In The Backyard
Accessory dwelling units aren’t just for rentals. (Weil, 7/5)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough Has Big Implications For Early Detection Effort
Since she arrived from the East Coast in 2024, Simeone has run the world’s largest pancreatic cancer early detection program from San Diego, serving as committee chair and a principal investigator of the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium. (Sisson, 7/6)
San Francisco Chronicle: Stanford Scientist's Eye Implant Is Helping Blind People Read Again
A retinal implant invented by a Stanford scientist is restoring limited vision to people with advanced macular degeneration. (Allday, 7/5)
Marin Independent Journal: Fairfax Denies Application For Medical Marijuana Shop
The Fairfax Town Council has denied an application to reopen the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana. Lynnette Shaw started the dispensary in 1996 and closed it in 2024 after being evicted from 6 School St., which is being redeveloped as an apartment building. (Rhoades, 7/7)
CapRadio: Sac Unified’s Free Summer Meals Help Stretch Grocery Budgets
Anyone 18 years and younger can get a free breakfast and lunch at more than 50 campus locations, even if they aren’t a student in the district. (Rodriguez, 6/30)
