Latest Morning Briefing Stories
California Lawmakers Aim To Pay Dentists More To Treat Poor Patients
Legislation would raise payments for Denti-Cal providers, using revenue from the state tobacco tax recently passed by California voters.
Leading the Way? Northern California Cities To Embark On Soda Tax Spending
Health advocates are expecting millions in new tax money for health education programs aimed at preventing obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. Other cities around the country are mulling similar measures.
Free Clinics Aim To Fill VA’s Shortfalls In Mental Health
A billionaire hedge fund manager, whose son served in Afghanistan, has opened a chain of clinics to tend to the psychological needs of veterans
In House Majority Leader’s Calif. District, Many Depend On Health Law He Wants To Scrap
Some of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s constituents fear his vow to repeal Obamacare now and replace it later could rob them of coverage.
No Immediate Changes To Your Obamacare Coverage
Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, state officials and advocates say Californians’ health plan is safe for now.
Back To The Future: Insurance Pools For High-Risk Patients Could Be Revived
Trump and leading Republicans like the idea. Some policymakers and experts say it wasn’t viable in the first place.
‘A Huge Improvement’: Study Finds Inmates Benefit From Much Shorter TB Treatment
A three-month drug regimen to treat latent TB in a California jail system was just as effective as the standard nine-month approach — and the patients were far more likely to finish treatment.
Could Legalizing Pot Diminish California’s Gains Against Smoking?
Some experts worry that smoking pot could lead to use of tobacco, but proponents of marijuana legalization argue that the two products are different and should not be conflated.
Children’s Hospital Partnership Boosts Care For Sick Kids
An innovative partnership in which a children’s hospital shares revenue and costs with a community hospital helps improve access to specialized care.
California Lends Its Weight To Wider Marijuana Acceptance
The number of states with laws permitting marijuana use underscores a national cultural shift toward wider acceptance of the drug, despite the federal ban and limited evidence on the public health impacts of legalization.
California Faces Major Reversal If Trump, Congress Scrap Health Law
Uninsured Californians could more than double to 7.5 million if Affordable Care Act is repealed.
California se enfrenta a un revés importante si Trump revoca la ley de salud
California tiene mucho que perder si el presidente electo Donald Trump y el Congreso liderado por republicanos cumplen con su promesa de campaña de revocar el Obamacare.
California’s RN Wages Now Highest In The Nation, Federal Data Show
Registered nurses in the state earn an average annual salary of $100,000, compared to a national average of $71,000.
California’s Latino Doctors Push For More Of Their Own
More than one-third of the state’s Latino physicians plan to retire within the next 10 years, according to a new survey.
California Man Dies After Apparent Failure Of Artificial Heart Compressor
The FDA confirms it is looking into more than one problem with the compressor, which is used to power patients’ artificial hearts.
New California Law Will More Finely Parse Health Data On Asians
Advocates hope better data will help ethnic communities.
California Reforms Target Workers’ Compensation Fraud
Two new laws will prohibit felons from billing for workers’ comp and rein in unsanctioned treatment.
Everything Californians Wanted To Know About Their Health Plan (But Were Afraid To Ask)
A new online database created by the Department of Managed Health Care can help consumers size up and compare insurance plans.
New Law Will Expand Mental Health Services For Low-Income Californians
Legislation recently signed by Gov. Brown will allow about 1,000 clinics statewide to bill Medi-Cal for treatment by marriage and family counselors, deepening the pool of mental health providers.
Covered California Resolves Pregnancy Snafu
Officials at the state exchange say they have fixed their computer system to stop switching some low-income pregnant women into Medi-Cal without their approval.
