Latest Morning Briefing Stories

California Lawmakers Send Contested Vaccine Bill To Governor. Will He Sign It?

KFF Health News Original

The state Senate on Wednesday sent a measure to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that would tighten the rules for children’s medical exemptions from vaccines. Newsom, who said in June that he would sign the measure after amendments had been made at his request, now wants more changes.

California Tries Again To Make Medication Abortions Available At Its Colleges

KFF Health News Original

A proposed state law would require on-campus health centers to provide students with the medicines that allow them to end an unwanted pregnancy. Former Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill last year, but Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he would sign it.

A Young Woman, A Wheelchair And The Fight To Take Her Place At Stanford

KFF Health News Original

Throughout her young life, Sylvia Colt-Lacayo has been told her disability didn’t need to hold her back. She graduated near the top of her high school class. She was co-captain of the mock trial team. In April, she learned she had been admitted to Stanford University with a full scholarship. Now, the struggle to fund the caregivers she needs to leave home is proving her toughest battle yet.

Governor’s ‘Mental Health Czar’ Seeks New Blueprint For Care In California

KFF Health News Original

Thomas Insel, who ran the National Institute of Mental Health for 13 years before casting his lot with Silicon Valley, is taking a temporary break from his senior position at a health care startup to advise Gov. Gavin Newsom on how to remake mental health care in the Golden State.

How And When Immigrants’ Use Of Government Benefits Might Affect Their Legal Status

KFF Health News Original

Confusion about a new federal rule to restrict legal immigration based on the use of public benefits may dampen sign-ups for health care, housing and food aid even among immigrants not directly targeted by the rule. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that will help clear up some of the misunderstanding.

Doctors Fight Legislation Prompted By Sex Abuse Scandals

KFF Health News Original

In response to recent high-profile sex abuse cases, some California lawmakers want doctors to give patients more information about pelvic exams, and then get a signature proving they did. Doctors in the Golden State and beyond are pushing back.

Dialysis Industry Spends Big To Protect Profits

KFF Health News Original

Dialysis companies are fighting a bill in the California legislature that could disrupt their business model. Their weapons: campaign cash and a sophisticated public relations campaign.

Shopping Abroad For Cheaper Medication? Here’s What You Need To Know

KFF Health News Original

Americans routinely skirt federal law by crossing into Canada and Mexico or tapping online pharmacies abroad to purchase prescription medications at a fraction of the price they would pay at home. Is it safe? Not necessarily. Here’s some advice.

¿Buscas medicamentos más baratos en el exterior? Esto es lo que debes saber

KFF Health News Original

Los estadounidenses eluden la ley federal cruzando a Canadá y México, o recurriendo a farmacias en línea en el extranjero para comprar medicamentos recetados a una fracción del precio que pagarían en casa.

Tecnología casera ofrece más libertad a los pacientes para controlar su diabetes

KFF Health News Original

La diabetes tipo 1 es una condición crónica que requiere un estricto control de la glucosa y la administración de la cantidad de insulina precisa. Pacientes crearon un sistema para mantener ese equilibrio vital.

DIY Tech Gives People More Freedom In Managing Diabetes

KFF Health News Original

People with diabetes say they’ve been waiting for years for better technology to manage their chronic condition. Tired of waiting, some tech-savvy, do-it-yourselfers are constructing their own devices using open-source programming instructions.

Despite Failed Promises, Stem Cell Advocates Again Want Taxpayers To Pony Up Billions

KFF Health News Original

California’s stem cell agency, created by a $3 billion bond measure 15 years ago, is almost out of money. Its supporters plan to ask voters for even more funding next year, even though no agency-funded treatments have been approved for widespread use.

Going Down Fighting: Dying Activist Champions ‘Medicare For All’

KFF Health News Original

Presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren tried to tell the story of Ady Barkan in the latest Democratic debate. He’s one of the most prominent advocates for “Medicare for All” and is spending his remaining time alive doing everything he can to make the case that all Americans need affordable health coverage.

As States Strive To Stabilize Insurance Marketplaces, Insurers Return

KFF Health News Original

States increasingly expect to see insurers enter or re-enter ACA marketplaces next year. That’s a critical sign that these exchanges are growing less risky for insurers despite ongoing political and legal battles over the ACA.

Charity Care Spending By Hospitals Plunges

KFF Health News Original

The proportion of money that California hospitals spent on free and discounted care for low-income people dropped by more than half from 2013 to 2017 — even for nonprofit hospitals. Hospitals say there’s less demand for charity care because more people now have health insurance, but consumer advocates counter that people still need help.