Facebook Live: Vaping Unveiled

Nicotine-loaded e-cig juices that spoof popular treats — marketed to help adults kick the smoking habit— instead may be luring youths into addiction. California Healthline’s Facebook Live peeled back the curtains on this wolf in sheep’s clothing.

In Health Care Arena, The Prize For Calif. Insurance Commissioner Is A Bullhorn

The California Department of Insurance, headed by the commissioner, regulates only a small fraction of the market. But the job comes with a bully pulpit that amplifies its impact. Three of the four candidates would use it to push for a statewide single-payer system.

Health Care Looms Large In Race For California’s Top Cop

Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who has made a name for himself opposing Trump administration policies on health care and other matters, is running against opponents who say they wouldn’t make such resistance their primary focus.

Insurer Slashes Breast Pump Payments, Stoking Fears Fewer Moms Will Breastfeed

Anthem, one of the country’s largest insurers, has cut the reimbursement rate it pays for breast pumps by nearly half, fueling concerns that new moms — especially ones with lower incomes — will not be able to afford the pumps they need.

When Is Insurance Not Really Insurance? When You Need Pricey Dental Care.

Even under a decent plan, you’ll have to dig deep in your pocket for crowns, bridges and implants. The mouth isn’t covered by insurance the same way as the rest of the body, and this division has deep roots in history and tradition.

California Hospital Giant Sutter Health Faces Heavy Backlash On Prices

In a case with possible national repercussions, the state’s attorney general has sued over alleged price gouging, and other legal and legislative challenges are afoot. Sutter is pushing back hard, denying anticompetitive behavior.

Primero fue la marihuana… ¿y ahora los hongos alucinógenos?

Siguiendo los pasos de la marihuana, Oregon y Colorado impulsan la legalización de hongos alucinógenos cuya sustancia activa, la psilocibina, podría ayudar a superar la depresión y la ansiedad.

First, Marijuana. Are Magic Mushrooms Next?

Advocates in Oregon and Denver are pushing ballot measures to allow possession of mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic ingredient psilocybin, as new research shows it may be useful in treating depression and anxiety. Supporters of a measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in California ended their effort late last month.

Use Of Psychiatric Drugs Soars In California Jails

A combination of factors has led to an “astronomical” increase in mentally ill inmates, followed by increased efforts to identify those who need prescriptions. Some say the meds are underprescribed; others, that they are given inappropriately, without the benefit of comprehensive treatment.

Tax-Funded Mental Health Programs Not Always Easy To Find

Revenue from California’s Mental Health Services Act has funded billions of dollars in mental health programs across the state, but finding out what’s available — and to whom — could be a challenge for consumers.

California Lawmakers Seek Reparations For People Sterilized By The State

More than 20,000 Californians were sterilized at state homes and hospitals from 1909 to 1979, most of them women, people with disabilities and immigrants. Now, a state lawmaker wants to provide reparations to the roughly 800 living survivors, many of whom never consented to the procedures or did so under pressure.

Por qué activistas no quieren que una gran conferencia de SIDA se realice en el país

Restricciones en la entrada al país de usuarios de drogas y trabajadoras sexuales hacen que activistas de San Francisco cuestionen que el área sea sede de la próxima Conferencia Internacional de SIDA.

Choice Of Bay Area For AIDS Conference Exposes Tension Among Activists

Numerous advocacy groups oppose the recent decision to hold the 2020 International AIDS conference in San Francisco and Oakland, and some argue it shouldn’t be in the U.S. at all. Those who support the decision say the predominantly liberal politics of the region make it an ideal venue for sending a message about the Trump administration’s perceived retreat from leadership on AIDS.