Health

Commentary

Despite Newsom veto, California should still provide free condoms to public school students

A bill that would've required public schools to give students access to free condoms was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, but young advocates worried about the rise in sexually transmitted infections are vowing to keep pushing for access.

By Ria Babaria and Martin Orea • November 28, 2023

Commentary

As hospitals and maternity wards close, here’s one way California can prevent stillbirths

Expectant parents are losing access to prenatal care or driving long distances with so many California hospitals closing maternity wards to cut costs. A mother whose first child was stillborn shares her story and an important practice that public agencies should raise awareness about.

By Allie Felker • November 15, 2023

Health

California’s ‘tripledemic’ season is off to a mild start. What to know about flu, RSV and COVID

New vaccines for RSV and an updated booster for COVID-19 give Californians more tools to protect themselves from respiratory viruses this fall.

By Shreya Agrawal • November 6, 2023

Commentary

Why increasing the number of Latino physicians is so important for California

California has a lot of work to do to build a representative physician workforce. Latinos account for just 6% of physicians, despite making up 39% of the state's population.

By Veronica Contreras • October 18, 2023

Environment

Once it was hailed as a drought fix — but now California’s moving to restrict synthetic turf over health concerns

California cities can ban synthetic turf under a law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed. He rejected a bill to ban PFAS in fake lawns.

By Shreya Agrawal • October 18, 2023

Health

Kaiser unions went on strike twice in 12 months. The latest walkout led to a ‘historic’ deal

Unions at Kaiser Permanente put pressure on the health care giant to raise pay and address what they called understaffing during two strikes over the past year. The results reflected labor’s power in California.

By Kristen Hwang • October 17, 2023

Health

Families fume over Newsom’s veto of children’s hearing aid bill, call his plan ‘a nightmare’

More than 30 states require insurers to provide some level of coverage for kids’ hearing aids. California isn’t one of them, and Gov. Newsom for the second time has vetoed a bill to close that gap.

By Kristen Hwang • October 13, 2023

Health

Kaiser agrees to $200 million settlement over California mental health delays

Kaiser patients waited 19 days for follow-up mental health appointments in 2019, nine days longer than state law permits. The settlement includes the largest-ever penalty issued by California’s behavioral health regulator.

By Ana B. Ibarra • October 12, 2023

Reader Reactions

Setting a minimum wage for California health workers helps patients, too

The head of a network of community clinics in Los Angeles says a $25 minimum wage has improved patient care and staff retention, and wants Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign legislation that would make it a requirement statewide.

By Guest Commentary • October 12, 2023

Commentary

Newsom signs bill that may resurrect pledge on single-payer health care

California Gov. Gavin Newsom once pledged to implement single-payer health care but later backed away. He just signed a bill that takes a tiny step toward the holy grail of those on the political left.

By Dan Walters • October 11, 2023