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Groups fighting hunger will hold a panel discussion in Los Angeles, called

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Feeding the unhoused in LA.: Searching for best practices

California is home to more than 181,000 people who are unhoused, with 75,000 in Los Angeles alone, so the Los Angeles Food Policy Council will host a …

Childhood vaccines are stored in temperature-controlled refrigerators at pediatrician Eric Ball's practice in Orange County, Calif. (Jackie Forti�r/KFF Health News)

Pedatricians cut back on COVID shots as interest wanes

By Jackie Fortiér for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public Ne…

A partir del a�o que viene, los afiliados a Medicare no tendr�n que gastar ni un centavo m�s de $2,000 por a�o en medicamentos recetados.

Informe: Nuevo límite de recetas médicas para Medicare supone gran ahorro

Según un to nuevo informe de AARP, cientos de miles de californianos de edad avanzada se ahorrarán mucho en medicamentos a partir de enero…

Medicare enrollees will not have to spend more than $2,000 annually on prescription drugs, starting next year. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Report: New prescription drug cap for Medicare means big savings

Hundreds of thousands of older Californians will see huge savings on prescription drugs starting in January, according to a new report from AARP…

A new online resource helps LGBTQ+ people navigate end-of-life decisions.(Cultura Creative/Adobe Stock)

New online tool aids LGBTQ+ people in making end-of-life decisions

LGBTQ+ Americans are twice as likely to experience discrimination in health care, including as they age, according to a new survey from the Kaiser …

The Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute is training members of the local community to reduce shortages in the health care workforce. (LRMAI)

CA program combats shortage of medical assistants

California faces a big shortage in the health care workforce, so health centers in San Diego are taking matters into their own hands, launching a …

El Compassionate Care Act crear�a una campa�a de concientizaci�n p�blica que fomente conversaciones entre pacientes, sus familias y m�dicos sobre los deseos para el final de la vida. (Nimito/Adobe Stock)

Nuevo proyecto de ley en el Congreso mejoraría la atención al final de la vida

Un proyecto de ley recién presentado en el Congreso aumentaría la conciencia pública sobre las cuestiones relacionadas con el final de …

The Compassionate Care Act would create a public awareness campaign that encourages conversations between patients, their families and doctors about end-of-life wishes. (Nimito/Adobe Stock)

New bill in Congress would improve end-of-life care

A bill just introduced in Congress would raise public awareness of issues surrounding the end of life, including palliative care, and hospice…

A bill would establish a partnership between the California Departments of Public Health, Civil Rights and Justice to share data on racial bias in health care when patients suffer adverse events. (N F/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Black women’s groups fight bias in health care

A bill headed to the State Senate floor this week would require California to start tracking discrimination in health care. Assembly Bill 3161 asks …

The Park Fire in Northern California is causing widespread air quality issues due to heavy smoke. (Cal Fire)

Massive blazes give rise to increased issues with 'fire brain'

Mental-health experts are sounding the alarm about "fire brain" - a condition caused by exposure to toxic wildfire smoke. One study found that …

Jos� Alejandro Lemuz, del �rea de Los �ngeles, se pronunci� a favor de la Ley de Opci�n de Fin de Vida antes de recurrir a ayuda m�dica y poner fin a su sufrimiento el pasado mes de marzo. (Compassion & Choices)

Informe: Más hispanos en CA recurren a la ayuda médica para morir

Cada vez son más los hispanos que se acogen a la ley de ayuda médica para morir, según un nuevo informe del Departamento de Salud de …

Jos� Alejandro Lemuz, from the Los Angeles area, spoke out in favor of the End of Life Options Act before using medical aid in dying to end his suffering this past March. (Compassion & Choices)

Report: More Hispanic Californians using medical aid in dying

More and more Hispanic people are taking advantage of California's medical aid-in-dying law, according to a new report from the California Department …

Agricultural interests from around the state are contributing to efforts to defeat Measure J in Sonoma County, which seeks to ban concentrated animal feeding operations. (Marcelo/Adobe Stock)

Sonoma County ballot measure would ban large livestock farms

This November, voters in Sonoma County will decide on a first-of-its-kind proposal, known as "Measure J," to ban large concentrated animal feeding …

A map from the University of Southern California shows communities in the Los Angeles area considered

USC researchers call for legislation to combat 'pharmacy deserts'

Research shows many people in low-income California communities are having a hard time filling their prescriptions because pharmacies in their area ar…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people have the highest rates of suicide by race/ethnicity. (Rabin/Adobe Stock)

CA group fights stigma for Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the challenges ethnic and racial minorities face when it …

Open enrollment for 2025 Covered California plans begins on Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. (Greg Kelton/Adobe Stock)

CA health insurance costs to rise, but subsidies will help

CoveredCA announced Wednesday that the average premium for plans on the marketplace will rise 7.9% in 2025, but subsidies are expected to blunt the …

Workers can file safety or heat-related complaints at the Cal/OSHA office nearest their work site or by calling 866-924-9757. (Sculpies/Adobe Stock)

As temps climb, CA workers encouraged to know their rights

California has shattered heat records left and right this month and temperatures are forecast to be 10 degrees above normal this weekend, so the …

A new California law expands mental health access for youth insured through Medi-Cal, which should increase the number of therapists available to provide counseling. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

New law allows youth on Medi-Cal to consent to mental health treatment

A new law just took effect in California, giving children on Medi-Cal age 12 and older the right to consent to mental health care on their own…

Finn Does (center), summit co-chair, and other youth participants at the 2023 Bay Area Youth Climate Summit in San Francisco. (Finn Does)<br />

'Composting' our emotions: How climate action cultivates well-being

By Elizabeth Hewitt for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Drowning is a leading cause of death for toddlers up to age 4, so close supervision and lifejackets are a must. (Triocean/Adobe Stock)

Tips to stay safe as July 4th heatwave envelops the Golden State

This year, the 4th of July weekend arrives with an extreme heat advisory in California, with triple-digit temperatures in many inland areas well into …

The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers providing free and confidential emotional support 24/7. (Derrick/Adobestock)

988 mental health crisis line celebrates 2nd anniversary

The country's new 988 mental health response system turns two years old this month and a new report praised California's implementation while calling …

Los defensores del medio ambiente dicen que un caso que se encuentra ahora ante la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos podr�a facilitar que los jueces debiliten leyes como el Clean Water Act en el futuro. (Visualitte/Adobe Stock)

Corte Suprema sopesa caso que podría debilitar protección ambiental

Se espera que la Corte Suprema se pronuncie en cualquier momento sobre doctrina de deferencia de Chevron de 1984 que decía que cuando se cuestion…

Environmental advocates say a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court could make it easier for judges to weaken laws such as the Clean Water Act in the future. (Visualitte/Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court weighs case that could weaken environmental protections

The Supreme Court is expected to rule any day now on two cases that could allow judges to more easily overrule federal agencies, which could have big …

California's child poverty rate is on track to increase, as federal pandemic-era supports come to an end. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

California ranks in bottom third of all states for kids’ well-being

California ranks 35th for overall child well-being, according to the 2024 2024 Kids Count Data Book released today. Researchers from the Annie E…

A soldier participates in the Norwegian Foot March at Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey County, Calif., in 2022. (Winifred Brown/U.S. Army)

Vets exposed to Agent Orange at Fort Ord denied VA compensation

By Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health Ne…

Cineasta de CA sigue a sus padres mientras eligen ayuda médica para morir

Una nueva serie documental analiza la ayuda médica para morir a través de los ojos de personas con enfermedades terminales que abogan por un…

CA filmmaker follows her parents as they choose medical aid in dying

A new documentary series looks at medical aid in dying through the eyes of terminally ill people advocating for a peaceful passing on their own terms…

Solar panels and a battery backup will provide an emergency power supply for Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg, which serves more than 12,000 people per year, half of them children. (Alliance Medical Center)

Medical center installs microgrid to safeguard clinic power supply

Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg just switched on new solar panels and battery backup as part of a plan to make the clinic more resilient to powe…

A new study showed polluting chemicals in car interiors are a bigger risk for children and for people who drive for a living or have long commutes. (Dmindphoto/Adobe Stock)

Consumer groups call on feds to regulate flame retardants in cars

UPDATE: A response has been added from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. (2:02 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2024) A new study showed the flame …

Union workers spent Wednesday lobbying California lawmakers to pass bills to protect labor during the transition away from fossil fuels. (Brooke Anderson)<br />

Union coalition calls for CA worker climate bill of rights

Dozens of union members rallied Wednesday in Sacramento, calling on lawmakers to pass a set of bills called the California Worker Climate Bill of …

Los defensores de los ni�os est�n presionando a los legisladores para que aprueben el Proyecto de Ley 2956 de la Asamblea, que continuar�a con las flexibilidades de la era de la pandemia en Medi-Cal que permitir�an que m�s personas calificaran. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

Cientos de miles de niños de CA dejaron de recibir Medi-Cal desde el año pasado

Medi-Cal ha eliminado a varios cientos de miles de niños de bajos ingresos de las listas de seguro médico desde abril de 2023, según …

Children's advocates are pressing lawmakers to pass Assembly Bill 2956, which would continue pandemic-era flexibilities in Medi-Cal that allow more people to qualify. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

Hundreds of thousands of CA children dropped off Medi-Cal since last year

Medi-Cal has dropped several hundred thousand low-income children from the health insurance rolls since April 2023, according to a new report from …

Under a new DEA proposal, marijuana would be considered less dangerous than heroin but still more addictive than cocaine, alcohol or Xanax. (Roxxyphotos/Adobe Stock)

Advocates cheer feds’ proposal to reclassify marijuana as lower risk

Marijuana legalization groups are celebrating after the Drug Enforcement Agency proposed Tuesday to reclassify cannabis as less dangerous or addictive…

15-year-old Cash Hennessy and his parents became advocates for better training in schools on sudden cardiac arrest after the teen survived a brush with death. (Kristine Kelly/American Heart Association)

Advocates promote bill to improve survival after cardiac arrest in schools

The California State Assembly is considering a bill to require schools to have a cardiac arrest response plan. Assembly Bill 2887 would make sure …

Since 2009, Market Match has served tens of thousands of low-income Californians to buy produce at markets like this one in San Francisco.(Heart of the City Market)

Groups plead with CA legislators to save Market Match program

California's program helping low-income families buy fresh fruit and vegetables is on the chopping block and health care advocates are asking legislat…

Las estad�sticas muestran que las mujeres representan casi dos tercios de los estadounidenses de 65 a�os o m�s que padecen la enfermedad de Alzheimer. (Africa Studio/Adobestock)

En el Día Nacional de las Decisiones de Atención Médica, defensores destacan la planificación del final de la vida

Hoy es el Día Nacional de las Decisiones de Atención Médica, un día en el que se anima a todos a revisar su planificación …

Statistics show that women make up nearly two-thirds of Americans 65 or older living with Alzheimer's disease. (Africa Studio/Adobestock)

On National Healthcare Decisions Day, advocates spotlight end-of-life planning

Today is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day when everyone is encouraged to review their end-of-life planning. The 2024 Alzheimer's Association …

The Health4All Coalition rallied in Sacramento on Monday, asking state lawmakers to open up the Covered California health insurance exchange to all people, regardless of their immigration status. (Ed Sifuentes/CA Immigrant Policy Center)

Coalition presses to open health exchange to undocumented Californians

This week, groups fighting for health equity known as the Health4All campaign are asking the California Legislature to remove barriers to the …

A new bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a new grant program, to fund a 24/7 helpline for parents and youths. (Raushan_films/Adobestock)

Bill would fund National Parent & Youth Helpline

The new National Parent & Youth Helpline has already taken 6,700 calls, texts and live chats since its inception in January, and now the U.S…

New EPA rules on vehicle emissions aim to save drivers money through reduced fuel and maintenance costs of electric and hybrid vehicles. (Tongpatong/Adobestock)

Environmental advocates cheer new EPA clean-car rules

Clean-air groups are calling the Biden administration's new rules on vehicle pollution the single biggest action the Environmental Protection Agency h…

Care4All California, a coalition of more than 70 healthcare advocacy groups, is pressing for a package of bills this legislative session to rein in healthcare costs and improve equity. (Kit Bear/HealthAccess CA)<br />

CA healthcare advocates unveil package of bills to lower costs

On Tuesday, Care4All California, a coalition fighting for affordable health care, unveiled a package of bills its members say they would like state …

A recent survey from the California Health Care Foundation found that almost three-quarters of low-income people say they skipped or postponed health care because of cost in the past year. (Kenishirotie/Adobestock)

Public comment sought on proposal to limit growth in health-care costs

Health plan premiums and deductibles have risen sharply in recent years - so the state Office of Health Care Affordability is proposing to limit growt…

Many school lunch programs are introducing more non-meat, non-dairy meals to normalize a healthier, more climate-friendly plant-based diet. (CivilEats)

California leads way in low-carbon school meals

By Naoki Nitta for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…

Studies indicate that fluoride varnish can prevent about one-third of cavities in baby teeth. (Lucky Business/Adobestock)

For Children's Dental Health Month, expert tips on avoiding cavities

February is Children's Dental Health Month - and experts advise parents to start with the basics right away, even with newborns. Parents should …

Asian Health Services in Oakland, like many community health centers, tailors healthcare to their region, with culturally competent staff who speak multiple languages. (Asian Health Center)

Community health leaders press Congress for more stable funding

Community Health Center leaders are pleading with Congress to pass a budget deal by March 8 to avoid a partial government shutdown - arguing that the …

Millions expected to wear red today for start of 'American Heart Month'

Today is National Wear Red Day, part of American Heart Month in February. Lots of celebrities and news anchors will be wearing red, and many iconic …

Advocates say programs that help children should be protected during the upcoming negotiations over the state budget. (Weedezign/Adobestock)

2024 Children’s Report Card shows CA behind in many areas

California's children are doing well - the vast majority have health insurance and access to transitional kindergarten - but the state is far behind i…

The Health4All coalition has pushed for many years for full-scope Medi-Cal for all income-eligible Californians regardless of immigration status. (Health4All Coalition)

Medi-Cal immigration status exclusion ends Monday

Starting Monday, California becomes the first state to cover health care for all income-eligible people regardless of their age or immigration status…

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