Health

Legal spots to shoot up illegal drugs? Why California may OK them

(Update: On Sept. 12, the Senate voted down AB 186. Its sponsor, Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, said “I am committed to finding a way forward next year.”) Many California communities could open centers inviting addicts to shoot up hard drugs under a little-noticed bill that has cleared the state Assembly and now awaits a vote on the Senate […]

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• July 26, 2017

Caleb Sears was 6 when he died after anesthesia during oral surgery (photo courtesy of the Sears family.) Inset above: his mother Eliza, father Tim and uncle Sebastian Kaplan at Monday's hearing.

Health

Dental lobby prevails again: Grieving parents shelve Caleb’s Law rather than dilute it

It has become a familiar routine for the Sears family: Gather the medical experts, trek to Sacramento, and tell another panel of lawmakers how their 6-year-old son died from the anesthesia a dentist gave him to pull a tooth. Then watch as legislators water down the solution that pediatricians insist would prevent other California children […]

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• July 11, 2017

Economy

Early returns suggest smoking drop in response to state tax

It's early, but it looks like good news for public health advocates.

By

Matt Levin

• July 10, 2017

Health

Universal health care for California: Closer to reality, but big hurdles remain

Should state government become the health insurer for all Californians?

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• July 1, 2017

Health

State’s single payer health bill set aside—now what?

Proponents of single payer healthcare in California are strategizing about what do next after the speaker of the Assembly shelved the bill, saying it lacked critical details such as how it would be funded.

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• June 27, 2017

Health

Poll shows record support for Obamacare in California

More than half of Californians worry they will lose health insurance if the Republican Congress and President Donald Trump repeal what's commonly known as Obamacare, according to a poll released today.

By

Samantha Young

• June 20, 2017

Health

Democrats eye more health care for California’s undocumented

California’s Democratic legislators want to extend health benefits to undocumented young adults, the continuation of an effort that ushered children without legal status into the state’s publicly funded health care system last year. It is unclear when the program would start or how much the state would spend if the proposal, which could cost up […]

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• June 7, 2017

Health

California Senate stands with Planned Parenthood

Democrats in the state Senate have OK'd legislation that would give Californians the option to buy “pro-choice” license plates – a small but symbolic rebuke to GOP threats to cut federal funds to Planned Parenthood or any medical provider who performs abortions.

By

Samantha Young

• May 31, 2017

Health

Obamacare repeal passes the House: What will this mean for California?

In a vote likely to upend both political fortunes and insurance markets across California, the House passed the American Health Care Act today, a bill that would repeal and replace Obamacare. California, which invested heavily in participating in Obamacare, would be particularly affected if the bill becomes law.

By

Ben Christopher

• May 4, 2017

Health

Taking it to the streets: Senate panel approves “pro-choice” license plates

A Senate panel this week approved legislation that would give Californians the option to buy a pro-choice license plate—a direct response to Trump efforts to strip federal funding from any medical provider who performs an abortion.

By

Samantha Young

• April 27, 2017