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Kaiser Permanente Back in the Hot Seat Over Mental Health Care, but It’s Not Only a KP Issue

By Bernard J. Wolfson February 11, 2025 KFF Health News Original

Mental health workers on strike in Southern California say Kaiser Permanente is woefully understaffed, its therapists are burned out, and patients are often denied timely access to care. The insurer says it has largely fixed the problem. But across California and the nation, mental health parity is still not a reality.

Recovery From Addiction Is a Journey. There’s No One-and-Done Solution.

By Bernard J. Wolfson June 6, 2023 KFF Health News Original

Drug use has become a major public health crisis, but effective treatment remains hard to find. It does exist though. Columnist Bernard J. Wolfson offers advice on finding help and says not to expect a quick solution.

In San Francisco’s Chinatown, a CEO Works With the Community To Bolster Hospital

By Bernard J. Wolfson April 19, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Jian Zhang, an immigrant from China with a doctorate in nursing, leads the 88-bed Chinese Hospital in San Francisco. The facility faces financial constraints like other independent hospitals, but its strong community support and partnerships have helped it weather tough times.

Longtime Head of L.A. Care To Retire After Navigating Major Medi-Cal Changes

By Bernard J. Wolfson September 11, 2024 KFF Health News Original

John Baackes, who steered Medi-Cal’s largest health plan following the Affordable Care Act expansion, and later prepared it for a state overhaul of Medi-Cal, will retire after this year. Baackes believes low payments to doctors and other providers, along with an acute labor shortage, hamper Medi-Cal’s success.

California Bill Would Require State Review of Private Equity Deals in Health Care

By Bernard J. Wolfson August 13, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Proposed legislation would require the state attorney general’s consent for a wide range of private equity acquisitions in health care. The hospital lobby negotiated an exemption for for-profit hospitals.

First Responders, Veterans Hail Benefits of Psychedelic Drugs as California Debates Legalization

By Bernard J. Wolfson May 13, 2024 KFF Health News Original

California lawmakers have modified a psychedelic drug bill that was vetoed last year, narrowing it to allow only supervised use of psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy, and other hallucinogens rather than decriminalize more broadly. The current bill would establish new state agencies to regulate the program.

Por qué demócratas presentan el cierre del gobierno como una batalla por la atención médica

By Amanda Seitz October 6, 2025 KFF Health News Original

Los demócratas ven este momento político como una oportunidad para hablar sobre la necesidad de que la atención médica sea accesible.

California Leaders Tussle With Health Industry Over Billions of New Dollars for Medi-Cal

By Bernard J. Wolfson June 20, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to pull funds earmarked for new investment in Medi-Cal to help plug California’s $45 billion deficit. A state budget passed June 13 by the legislature largely endorsed Newsom’s plan. Voters could settle the matter in an industry-backed initiative that has qualified for the November ballot.

California Dabbles With Reining in Health Spending

By Bernard J. Wolfson June 12, 2024 KFF Health News Original

California is now among the states trying to keep health-care costs down by setting spending caps — a task that pits public officials against a deeply entrenched and heavily lawyered set of players. It’s uncertain whether the state can get insurers, hospitals and medical groups to collaborate on containing costs even as they jockey for […]

California Becomes Latest State To Try Capping Health Care Spending

By Bernard J. Wolfson June 5, 2024 KFF Health News Original

California is the ninth state to set annual health spending targets for the industry. Already hospitals and doctors are voicing resistance to the fledgling Office of Health Care Affordability, even as they avoid overtly opposing its goals.

The Psychedelics-As-Medicine Movement Spreads to California

By Bernard J. Wolfson May 15, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Ecstasy, “magic mushrooms” and other psychedelic drugs could soon be recognized as therapeutic in California — one of the latest states, and the biggest, to consider allowing their use as medicine. Legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) and Assembly member Marie Waldron (R) would allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin, mescaline, ecstasy and dimethyltryptamine […]

New Eligibility Rules Are a Financial Salve for Nearly 2 Million on Medi-Cal

By Bernard J. Wolfson February 15, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Nearly 2 million Medi-Cal enrollees, mainly people who are aged, disabled, or in long-term care, can now accumulate savings and property without limitations and still qualify for the state’s health insurance program for low-income residents. They join an additional roughly 12 million enrollees who already had no asset limits.

When You Think About Your Health, Don’t Forget Your Eyes

By Bernard J. Wolfson September 22, 2023 KFF Health News Original

Americans think losing their eyesight would be one of the worst possible health outcomes, yet millions lack a fundamental understanding of eye health.

Nuevas normas de elegibilidad son un alivio financiero para casi 2 millones de personas en Medi-Cal

By Bernard J. Wolfson February 15, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Este grupo se equiparará a los aproximadamente 12 millones de otros beneficiarios que no tienen límites de activos.

California’s Primary Care Shortage Persists Despite Ambitious Moves To Close Gap

By Bernard J. Wolfson and Vanessa G. Sánchez May 1, 2025 KFF Health News Original

The state has in recent years embraced several initiatives recommended in an influential health care workforce report, including alternative payment arrangements for primary care doctors to earn more. Despite increasing residency programs, student debt forgiveness, and tuition-free medical school, California is unlikely to meet patient demand, observers say.

Los médicos son tan vulnerables a la adicción como cualquier persona

By Bernard J. Wolfson January 4, 2024 KFF Health News Original

El alcohol es una droga muy común entre los médicos, pero su fácil acceso a los analgésicos es también un riesgo particular.

Doctors Are as Vulnerable to Addiction as Anyone. California Grapples With a Response.

By Bernard J. Wolfson January 4, 2024 KFF Health News Original

The Medical Board of California, which licenses MDs, is developing a program to evaluate, treat, and monitor doctors with alcohol and drug problems. But there is sharp disagreement over whether those who might volunteer for the program should be subject to public disclosure and over how much participants should pay.

Se avecinan cambios para Medi-Cal en 2024, pero ¿beneficiarán a los pacientes?

By Bernard J. Wolfson December 22, 2023 KFF Health News Original

A partir del próximo año, más de 700,000 inmigrantes sin papeles serán elegibles para una cobertura completa de Medi-Cal.

Bold Changes Are in Store for Medi-Cal in 2024, but Will Patients Benefit?

By Bernard J. Wolfson December 22, 2023 KFF Health News Original

California’s Medicaid program is undergoing major changes that could improve health care for residents with low incomes. But they are happening at the same time as several other initiatives that could compete for staff attention and confuse enrollees.

In New Year, All Immigrants in California May Qualify for Medicaid Regardless of Legal Status

By Bernard J. Wolfson December 18, 2023 KFF Health News Original

In the new year, California’s Medicaid program will open to otherwise eligible immigrants ages 26 to 49 without legal residency. They will join children, young adults, and adults over 50 enrolled in Medi-Cal through previous expansions to residents lacking authorization. The change is expected to add over 700,000 first-time enrollees.

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