Bernard J. Wolfson

Visit kff.org to read Bernard's bio.

bwolfson@kff.org
@bjwolfson

Learning to Live Again: A Lazarus Tale From the Covid Front Lines

KFF Health News Original

The staff at L.A. County’s public rehabilitation hospital is helping mostly Latino, low-income patients recover the basic functions of daily life robbed from them during weeks or months of critical covid illness.

New California Law Makes It Easier to Get Care for Mental Health and Substance Abuse

KFF Health News Original

The measure, which took effect Jan. 1, removes loopholes that made it easy for insurers to use arcane company guidelines to avoid paying for care. Patients now have an easier way to challenge those denials.

Head-Scratching Over Newsom’s Choice of Blue Shield to Lead Vaccination Push

KFF Health News Original

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s surprising choice of Blue Shield to lead the state’s covid vaccination effort raised questions about the role politics played in the decision — and whether the insurer is up to the task.

Vaccine Ramp-Up Squeezes Covid Testing and Tracing

KFF Health News Original

The ability of California health officials to multitask in a pandemic will be severely tested as they scramble to find staff for vaccination sites while maintaining testing and contact tracing.

COVID Vaccines Appear Safe and Effective, but Key Questions Remain

KFF Health News Original

The federal government expects vaccinations to be available to everyone who wants them by summer — though glitches are inevitable. If enough of us get vaccinated, we could wave goodbye to the pandemic in 2021.

LA County Authorities Cautious Despite Declining COVID Numbers

KFF Health News Original

The county, a hotbed of coronavirus infection in California, has seen a steady reduction in positive test results, new cases, hospitalizations and deaths over the past few weeks. But officials are concerned about public behavior over the Labor Day holiday weekend and wary of relaxing strictures too soon.

Wildfires Provide Another Reason to Mask Up

KFF Health News Original

As the long U.S. fire season gets underway, it’s even more important for Western residents to have a good face mask. Unfortunately, most of the masks we’re wearing for COVID-19 aren’t great for smoke.