Health

Newsom unveiled a “SMARTER” preparedness plan, including stockpiling masks and tests. But has the state learned lessons from its erratic handling of the pandemic?

The governor’s budget and a bill by a Democratic lawmaker would stop the state from charging more than 500,000 Californians a monthly premium for their Medi-Cal health coverage.

California’s first-of-its-kind Medi-Cal reform aims to help low-income patients navigate problems like homelessness, poverty and substance abuse that can harm health.

Other California health insurers say the special deal is unfair and could leave them with high-need patients. State health officials counter that Kaiser is a unique provider with limited capacity.

A bill for single-payer health care in California didn't even get a vote in the state Assembly after its author couldn't round up enough support before Monday's deadline. Advocates are incensed.

Lawmakers want to create stricter vaccine mandates, especially for children. They anticipate an especially fierce fight in the coming months.

Child care centers were already struggling prior to the omicron variant. Now a dire situation has gotten even worse.

So many employees are sick with COVID or scared to come into work that it's disrupting public transit service. That is having an impact on the workforce and the economy.

About 11,500 long-term care center workers are now sick with COVID. “It's been like one coworker after another, after another, everyone getting sick,” one nursing assistant said.

With 7 million Californians infected, how risky is it to work? When is it safe for omicron-infected workers to return?