Bernard J. Wolfson

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@bjwolfson

So You’re Vaccinated Against Covid. Now What?

KFF Health News Original

The vaccination rollout has been unsteady, but the vaccines seem very effective, raising hopes that the pandemic will subside by later this year if enough Americans get their shots. Meanwhile, remain cautious.

Kaiser Permanente, Big Player in State Vaccine Effort, Has Had Trouble Vaccinating Own Members

KFF Health News Original

Older patients in several states where the California-based managed care giant operates complain they’ve had difficulty scheduling appointments and spotty communication from the health system. Some report it’s getting better, though.

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.