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February 11, 2011

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October 23, 2018
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Health Care Headlines

March 30, 2011

Stay connected with stories about legislation, funding, programs and events that impact your hospital and the health care industry across the state.

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President creates interagency task force to improve flu vaccines
American Hospital Association

September 23, 2019

President Trump yesterday created an interagency task force to develop and implement a five-year plan to improve flu vaccines and produce them faster. “Faster methods of producing influenza vaccines will help keep Americans safer both from seasonal influenza, which kills tens of thousands of Americans each year, and from the potential of pandemic influenza, which is the single greatest biodefense threat our country faces,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

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PRIMEd for Health: California Medical Schools Focus on Underserved Communities
California Healthcare Foundation

September 23, 2019

Growing up poor near the Mexican border gave Karla Garcia, MD, MPH, insight into the daily struggles faced by Latinos with low incomes. After her medical training, Garcia returned to the community where she grew up to practice family medicine at San Ysidro Health, which serves San Diego County through a network of clinics near the border.

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Life in focus
Our Health California

September 23, 2019

Dazell Mallory was born with poor eyesight, and it only grew worse. He was on the brink of blindness — but a skilled surgery restored his sight.  This isn’t just a story about a medical miracle. Hospital doctors and nurses, their extensive education, and a host of equipment help make this sort of life-changing treatment happen, every single day.

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White House Puts National Spotlight on California Homelessness
California Healthcare Foundation

September 23, 2019

President Donald Trump has taken a sudden interest in California’s homelessness crisis. Last week, he and several senior White House advisers, including Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, visited the state to discuss federal intervention to address homelessness. But some state lawmakers registered deep suspicions about the White House’s interest, arguing that the policy options put forth by the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) neglect key drivers of homelessness.

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Calif. ‘Gig Economy’ Law Shakes Healthcare Sector
MedPage Today

September 23, 2019

With California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signing a landmark “gig economy” bill on Wednesday, healthcare workers and employers now face the task of figuring out what it will actually mean for them.

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Judge rules for AHA, hospitals in lawsuit on outpatient payment policy
American Hospital Association

September 20, 2019

A federal judge yesterday ruled in favor of the AHA and hospital organizations saying that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services exceeded its statutory authority when it reduced payments for hospital outpatient services provided in off-campus provider-based departments grandfathered under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. 

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Five things to know now about California’s new vaccine law
Cal Matters

September 20, 2019

California has a new vaccination law on the books. It cracks down on inappropriate use of medical exemptions that allow kids to skip some or all vaccines and still enter school. It gives power over the exemption process to public health officials and will create a vaccination database of all children with medical dispensation.

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Leprosy Outbreak in United States Only a ‘Matter of Time,’ One Physician Argues
Contagion Live

September 18, 2019

Certain populations in the United States are at risk for a resurgence of leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, according to a New York University physician who penned a public health warning in The Hill this week.

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AHA sponsors sessions at Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conference
American Hospital Association

September 16, 2019

The AHA this week sponsored two sessions at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2019 Annual Legislative Conference. One session was “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Communities: Opportunities and Challenges to Ending Maternal Health Disparities for Black Women,” hosted by Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill.

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Influenza Season Has Barely Begun, But a California Child’s Death Is Already Being Classified as ‘Flu-Associated’
Time

September 16, 2019

A September pediatric flu death in California serves as a stark reminder that getting vaccinated early can save lives.

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To Keep Women From Dying In Childbirth, Look To California
NPR

September 16, 2019

When Cayti Kane delivered a baby boy via cesarean section last year, her team of doctors was prepared.  Kane had been diagnosed with placenta accreta, a condition that increased the likelihood of a dangerous hemorrhage during delivery. When that happened, she had an emergency hysterectomy. Kane and her son went home healthy.

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CDC releases more free infection-control training courses
American Hospital Association

September 12, 2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released three new modules in its series of free online training courses to help health care organizations prevent and control infections.

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Report calls for national agenda to promote behavioral health in children
American Hospital Association

September 12, 2019

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for a national agenda to improve mental, emotional and behavioral health in children and youth.

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KFF Health Tracking Poll – September 2019: Health Care Policy In Congress And On The Campaign Trail
Kaiser Family Foundation

September 12, 2019

Congress is back in session and the public sees many health care issues as a “top priority” for Congress to work on including lowering prescription drug costs (70%), making sure the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) protections for people with pre-existing conditions continue (69%), lowering the amount people pay for health care (64%), and protecting people from surprise medical bills (56%).

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All healthcare is local: Blue Shield of California and L.A. Care invest $146 million in community health
Healthcare Finance

September 12, 2019

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and the L.A. Care Health Plan are investing $146 million in Los Angeles area resource centers to address the social determinants of health for over 1 million people.

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Lessons from Wildfires, Mudslides, Floods Top Agenda at California Hospital Disaster Planning Conference
Cision

September 11, 2019

From wildfires and earthquakes to floods and mass shootings, what were once rare or infrequent events have now become regular occurrences in California. For California hospitals, disaster preparedness has become a way of life — because being prepared can literally mean the difference between life and death.

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When EDs Close, Patients at Nearby Hospitals Suffer
MedScape

September 9, 2019

When a hospital emergency department (ED) in one community closes, emergency care for patients in neighboring communities can suffer, especially at high-occupancy hospitals, new data show.

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Governor’s ‘Mental Health Czar’ Seeks New Blueprint For Care In California
HealthLeaders

September 9, 2019

n a career full of twists, turns and high-powered assignments, Thomas Insel may now be embarking on one of his most daunting tasks yet — helping California find its way out of a worrisome mental health care crisis.

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California’s Severe Workforce Shortages Threaten Our Health, Future
California Hospital Association

September 9, 2019

California’s workforce supply is not keeping pace with the growing demand for health care services. Hospitals and health systems, particularly in rural or low-income areas, are struggling to ensure that 40 million Californians receive the care they need and deserve.

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LA County Hospitals Were Told To Stop ‘Dumping’ Homeless Patients, But Their Options Are Limited
LAist

September 9, 2019

For years, videos of ambulances dropping patients off on street corners prompted outrage and, eventually, legislation to stop it. But California hospitals attempting to comply with the new law run up against this stark reality: There are not enough beds available for homeless patients exiting hospitals.

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Vape Illness Update: 3 Deaths, 450 Cases, Countless Questions
MedPage Today

September 6, 2019

Federal health officials on Friday said no single source has been identified for the outbreak of respiratory illnesses linked to vaping, although New York state health officials reported that vitamin E acetate found in cannabis vaping products may have caused at least some cases.

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PIH Health to Partner With Good Samaritan Hospital
HealthLeaders

September 6, 2019

Los Angeles-based Good Samaritan Hospital will be joining Whittier-based PIH Health, according to a joint announcement made Thursday afternoon. As part of the deal, PIH Health will provide additional capital investments to Good Samaritan Hospital, which will go by the name “PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital” once the merger closes.

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Ten-Fold Rise in Deaths from Fentanyl, Other Synthetic Opioids
MedScape

September 6, 2019

US deaths from synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl, rose more than 10-fold in 5 years, new research shows.

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Despite more challenging practice environment, physician support for the ACA grew in 5 years
Fierce Healthcare

September 5, 2019

Physician support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) grew over five years, with 53% of doctors now agreeing it could turn healthcare “in the right direction.”

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Five Ways to Cure California’s Doctor Shortage January 11, 2019
California Healthcare Foundation

September 5, 2019

We know that primary care is essential for good health, but access to primary care in California varies greatly, with large swaths of the state competing for attention from increasingly fewer doctors. The primary care shortage is complex, rooted in decisions that future doctors make long before they attend medical school, the cost of their education, where they choose to live, and the financial lure of specialty practice.

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New report reinforces hospital mergers bring better care at lower costs.
American Hospital Association

September 4, 2019

Hospitals and health systems are transforming; redesigning how they deliver care to provide patients and communities with more convenient, cost-effective and innovative services.

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How hospitals prepare for hurricanes
KevinMD

September 4, 2019

We all expect hospitals to be open and operating when we need them, but extreme weather events like hurricanes are a strain on resources and pose significant challenges for hospitals.

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Trump Administration Announces $1.8 Billion in Funding to States to Continue Combating Opioid Crisis
HHS.gov

September 4, 2019

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced more than $1.8 billion in funding to states to continue the Trump administration’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis by expanding access to treatment and supporting near real-time data on the drug overdose crisis.

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Today’s hospitals discover the therapeutic touch of art
The Washington Post

September 3, 2019

If the word “hospital” elicits a mental image of sterile rooms and hallways and dreary decor, think again.  Modern hospitals have hit on a simple but effective way to foster even more healing: art.

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The US eliminated measles in 2000. The current outbreak could change that
CNN News

September 3, 2019

There’s a “reasonable chance” the United States will lose its measles elimination status in October because of ongoing measles outbreaks in New York, according to Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

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Calls Mount to Stop Vaping as Lung Injury Cases Skyrocket
MedScape

September 3, 2019

Federal agencies and some state and local health departments are urging people to stop vaping — especially from unauthorized products — if they have any concerns, as the number of cases of severe lung disease associated with the practice has risen to at least 215 and one person has died.

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Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with Using E-Cigarette Products
CDC.gov

August 30, 2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing: 1) background information on the forms of e-cigarette products, 2) information on the multistate outbreak of severe pulmonary disease associated with using e-cigarette products (devices, liquids, refill pods, and cartridges), and 3) clinical features of patients with severe pulmonary disease. This health advisory also provides recommendations for clinicians, public health officials, and the public based on currently available information.

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U.S. Medical Students Less Likely To Choose Primary Care
California Healthline

August 30, 2019

Hospital systems and health officials have been calling urgently for more primary care doctors, but graduates of U.S. medical schools are becoming less likely to specialize in one of the primary care fields.

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Behavioral Health Champion: Dr. Thomas Insel
Behavioral Health Action

August 29, 2019

As key advisor to Governor Newsom on mental health, Dr. Thomas Insel is helping lead California in addressing behavioral health challenges. We were thrilled to sit down with him for our #BehavioralHealthChampion interview series.

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Hospitals struggle to find shelter for discharged homeless patients
Ventura County Star

August 29, 2019

The homeless man with an oozing wound the size of a baseball was dropped off by a driver unannounced.

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Gavin Newsom drops plan for a California ‘homeless czar.’ Here’s what he’s doing instead
Sacramento Bee

August 28, 2019

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is backing away from his campaign promise to appoint a “cabinet-level secretary” on homelessness.

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Fewer Americans reported misusing pain relievers in 2018
American Hospital Association

August 26, 2019

The number of U.S. residents misusing pain relievers fell by 11% in 2018, to about 9.9 million, according to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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Opioid Treatment Is Used Vastly More in States That Expanded Medicaid
The New York Times

August 26, 2019

States that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act have seen a much bigger increase in prescriptions for a medication that treats opioid addiction than states that chose not to expand the program, a new study has found.

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Hospitals on shaky ground: Meeting the challenge of seismic safety
AAMC News

August 26, 2019

When the Sylmar-San Fernando earthquake struck Southern California in 1971, 64 people were killed and more than 2,500 injured. One of the hardest-hit buildings was the just-completed San Fernando Veterans Administration Hospital, whose unreinforced concrete wings collapsed, killing at least 44 people.

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St. John’s nurses call off planned strike, agree to tentative contract
Ventura County Star

August 26, 2019

Nurses at St. John’s hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo have called off a strike planned to start Aug. 30.

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Thanks to a grassroots campaign to save it, Marina del Rey’s community hospital is planning for growth under Cedars-Sinai
The Argonaut

August 26, 2019

Marina del Rey’s community hospital turns 50 this year — a milestone birthday in more ways than one. Having survived several ownership changes and an attempt to convert the property into a hotel, what’s now Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital is ready to launch an ambitious expansion project to increase the scope and volume of medical services.

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Largest Physician Quality Improvement Initiative in California History Yields Huge Health Benefit for Patients, $345 Million in Savings
BioSpace

August 21, 2019

State leaders, health plans, and provider organizations met today for the California Transformation Summit to announce major results of the largest collaborative initiative in history to improve health care quality, and discuss next steps.

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Hospitals on shaky ground: Meeting the challenge of seismic safety
Association of American Medical Colleges

August 21, 2019

When the Sylmar-San Fernando earthquake struck Southern California in 1971, 64 people were killed and more than 2,500 injured. One of the hardest-hit buildings was the just-completed San Fernando Veterans Administration Hospital, whose unreinforced concrete wings collapsed, killing at least 44 people.

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Perspective: Gearing up for a busy September on Capitol Hill
American Hospital Association

August 20, 2019

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the important role AHA member hospitals and health system leaders play in advocating for the field. This week, I’ll tell you exactly what we’re advocating for when Congress returns in September … and how you can help. 

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Emergency room or urgent care?
Our Health California

August 20, 2019

Don’t be fooled: “Emergency” and “urgent” may have similar meanings, but knowing the difference between the services offered at an emergency room versus an urgent care center can save a life.

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AONL CEO on how to help combat the nursing shortage
American Hospital Association

August 19, 2019

As a health care leader, you have likely heard that with aging patient populations, retiring nurses and growing rates of chronic disease, America’s nursing shortage is getting worse, with 1.2 million registered nurse vacancies expected by 2022.

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Measles Cases and Outbreaks
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

August 19, 2019

From January 1 to August 15, 2019, 1,203** individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 30 states. This is an increase of 21 cases from the previous week. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.

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Immigrant doctors could help address growing rural shortage
AgriPulse

August 19, 2019

The U.S. could see a shortage of nearly 120,000 physicians over the next 12 years as demand is outgrowing supply, with the stakes even higher in rural areas. One report suggests liberalizing immigration rules to make it easier for foreign-born doctors to work in rural areas, and lawmakers are proposing new inducements for rural physicians.

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Hospital power outage preparation never over
Modern Healthcare

August 19, 2019

Electrical power equipment designed to prevent overloaded circuitry failed in New York this summer, leading to a five-hour blackout in parts of the city on July 13, pushing Mount Sinai Hospital West into disaster-response mode.

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As mass shootings become normalized, hospitals prep their staff for the worst
Salon

August 19, 2019

As mass shootings have become normalized, many Americans have learned to fear public spaces like concert venues, movie theaters, shopping malls, places of worship, and even schools.

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As Families Drop Health Benefits Over ‘Public Charge’ Rule, Clinics Scramble to Respond
California Health Report

August 19, 2019

Soon after news broke last week of the Trump administration’s finalized “public charge” rule, benefit enrollers at the Eisner Health community clinic in downtown Los Angeles started getting phone calls.

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California leads latest lawsuit over Trump immigration rule
Channel 7 News

August 16, 2019

California and three other states on Friday filed the latest court challenge to new Trump administration rules blocking green cards for many immigrants who use public assistance including Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers.

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California Hospitals Spending Less On Charity Care
The Non-Profit Times

August 15, 2019

Hospitals in California, both nonprofit and for-profit, are spending less on uncompensated care since residents have access to coverage because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as ObamaCare.

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HHS proposal to roll back nondiscrimination protection draws 130K comments
Fierce Healthcare

August 15, 2019

A proposed rule that would remove anti-discrimination protections for patients, including those for LGBTQ individuals, generated more than 130,000 comments—many of them urging the Trump administration to drop the plan opponents call a rollback of health equity.

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Experts call for steps to stem increases in Legionnaires’
Associated Press

August 15, 2019

Top U.S. science experts are calling for stronger policies to combat the growing Legionnaires’ disease problem.

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Study: Calif. surprise bill law gives payers incentive to lower provider rates
American Hospital Association

August 14, 2019

A California law that limits the size of bills from out-of-network physicians for care delivered in hospitals has changed the negotiation dynamics between hospital-based physicians and payers, giving payers an incentive to lower or cancel contracts with rates higher than their average, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

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How Trump’s new rule on immigrants endangers public health
San Francisco Chronicle

August 14, 2019

On Monday the Department of Homeland Security finalized changes to the nation’s immigration laws in ways that radically redefine who is eligible for legal permanent residence. This new rule, which specifically alters the definition of “public charge,” will directly harm the health and well-being of California’s immigrant families.

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Hepatitis A Races Across the Country
MedScape

August 14, 2019

Just before the Fourth of July, Trenton Burrell began feeling run-down and achy. Soon he could barely muster the energy to walk from one room to another. A friend shared an alarming observation: “You’re turning yellow.”

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CMA President issues statement in response to Trump Administration’s new public charge rule
California Medical Association

August 13, 2019

California Medical Association (CMA) President David H. Aizuss, M.D., issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s new public charge rule that targets immigrant families.

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Strong Effort By Lawmakers To Stabilize Covered California Draws More Insurers
California Healthline

August 13, 2019

Felicia Morrison is eager to find a health plan for next year that costs less than the one she has and covers more of the medical services she needs for her chronic autoimmune disease.

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Healthcare industry groups warn final ‘public charge’ rule could impact immigrant health, drive up costs
Fierce Healthcare

August 13, 2019

The Trump administration Monday finalized its “public charge” rule on immigration, and experts within the healthcare industry are warning about the potential negative impacts the regulation could have. 

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New Federal Public Charge Rule Threatens Health and Safety of Legal Immigrants
California Hospital Association

August 13, 2019

“The Trump Administration’s new ‘public charge’ rule jeopardizes the well-being of people who have legally immigrated to this country and who want nothing more than to feed and shelter their families and obtain life-saving care when they are sick or injured,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association.

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Sacramento County left $126M in state mental health funds unspent. Now it has a new plan
Sacramento Bee

August 13, 2019

Sacramento County has yet to spend $126.1 million in allocated state money meant to invest in mental health services, even as the region wrestles with a growing crisis in hospital emergency rooms, in police calls and on city streets.

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Threat Of Kaiser Permanente Strike Grows As California Union Overwhelmingly Approves Vote
Kaiser Family Foundation

August 13, 2019

The California union is the largest in a national coalition involved in contract negotiations with Kaiser Permanente, and the first to OK a future strike that could involve up to 80,000 workers. In other health care industry labor news: health care, research and technical employees at the University of California vote to ratify a new contract after two years of negotiations and work stoppages.

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West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease On the Rise
Medscape

August 9, 2019

West Nile Virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease incidence was up nearly 25% in 2018 from the average incidence from 2008 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Hospital Employees Can Use Vacation Time to Pay Down Student Debt
MedScape

August 9, 2019

Montefiore St Luke’s Cornwall (MSLC), a not-for-profit community hospital with campuses in Newburgh and Cornwall, New York, is helping employees pay off student loan debt with a novel new program.

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Study: Half of rural hospitals could close under Medicare public option
American Hospital Association

August 8, 2019

Offering a government insurance program reimbursing at Medicare rates as a public option on the health insurance exchanges could place as many as 55% of rural hospitals, or 1,037 hospitals across 46 states, at high risk of closure, according to an analysis released today by Navigant Consulting Inc.

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Few patients price shop before planned hospital visit, survey finds
Healthcare Dive

August 8, 2019

Among patients who had a pre-planned visit to the hospital in the past year only 12% price shopped beforehand, and 97% of them were under the age of 65, according to a survey of 1,000 patients conducted by Waystar, a vendor of revenue-cycle management software.

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Medicare to Cover Expensive Cancer Cell Therapies
New York Times

August 8, 2019

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday said it has finalized a decision to cover expensive cancer cell therapies sold by Gilead Sciences Inc and Novartis AG.

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California hospitals urge lawmakers to scale back 2030 earthquake standards over cost concerns
Beckers

August 7, 2019

California hospitals are asking lawmakers to reduce 2030 state seismic safety standards due to the potential compliance cost involved, according to Southern California TV station KABC.

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State AGs urge Congress to remove opioid treatment barriers
American Hospital Association

August 7, 2019

The National Association of Attorneys General yesterday urged congressional leaders to remove federal barriers to opioid use disorder treatment.

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Independent Nurse Practitioners Bridge Big Gaps in Rural Care
California Health Care Foundation

August 7, 2019

When Francisco and Ramoncita Medina heard about the planned retirement of their longtime doctor Joseph Quintana, MD — the only physician in this rural town — they worried they’d be forced to move. The Medinas, both in their 70s, knew Quintana as their lifeline to care for diabetes, blood clots, glaucoma, asthma, gout, and more. Given Francisco’s hand tremor, his declining vision, and the slick winter roads, driving an hour to the nearest town of Alamosa for their frequent medical needs wasn’t feasible.

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Ladzekpo: California needs nurses more than ever
Bakersfield.com

August 6, 2019

For me, nursing is a calling. It is also a family business. My mom is a nurse and so is my sister. It is in my blood to want to help take care of others, and to serve the people around me in my community. After graduating from high school, I went to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse at Cal State Los Angeles. 

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Opioid Safety Lessons Put Physician on Path to State Policymaking
California Healthcare Foundation

August 6, 2019

After five years leading the California Health Care Foundation’s High-Value Care Team and its opioid safety portfolio, Kelly Pfeifer, MD, is leaving Oakland for Sacramento to become deputy director of mental health and substance use disorder services for the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). In the last four years, CHCF has invested $7 million in innovative opioid safety work.

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A Look at Recent Proposals to Control Drug Spending by Medicare and its Beneficiaries
Henry Kaiser Foundation

August 6, 2019

The affordability of prescription drugs is a pressing concern for many Americans, with broad agreement across the political spectrum that lowering prescription drug costs should be a top priority for Congress. 

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Hurry up and wait: Docs say insurers increasingly interfere
Associated Press

August 6, 2019

After Kim Lauerman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, doctors wanted to give her a drug that helps prevent infections and fever during chemotherapy. Her insurer said no.

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Telehealth use jumps at inpatient settings
Healthcare Dive

August 6, 2019

The use of telehealth services has surged in inpatient settings but remains relatively flat for outpatient locations, according to a pair of surveys released Tuesday by data and analytics company Definitive Healthcare.

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CMS increases wage index for rural hospitals
Healthcare Finance

August 6, 2019

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has increased wage index payments to rural hospitals that addresses concerns over the disparity between hospital payments in high-wage areas versus low-wage areas, which tend to be rural. CMS is redistributing funds by decreasing payments for all hospitals.

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How Congress Can Address The Mental Health Issue Of Mass Shootings
Forbes

August 5, 2019

Sandy Hook, Parkland, Orlando, Virginia Beach and now the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting evoke painful memories of terrible violence and innocent deaths.

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California hospitals question 2030 earthquake standards
ABC 10 News

August 5, 2019

A Southern California hospital spent $72 million on a building designed to do two things after an earthquake: stay standing and stay open.  But when a pair of strong earthquakes struck the region last month, the hospital couldn’t use it.

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New Alzheimer’s Blood Test 94% Accurate
MedScape

August 5, 2019

A new blood test to detect brain changes emblematic of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has moved one step closer to reality and could be a “game changer” for the field.

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Trump administration to consider plans to import prescription drugs from Canada
Los Angeles Times

August 1, 2019

The Trump administration — under mounting pressure to lower prescription drug prices ahead of next year’s elections — announced plans Wednesday to consider allowing states to import lower-priced medications from Canada.

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For nurses at risk of suicide, program lets them seek help when they need it the most
Los Angeles Times

August 1, 2019

A confidential UC San Diego counseling program aims to change stoic nursing culture into one that seeks emotional help when it’s needed most

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Despite Calls to Start Over, US Health System Covers 90%
The New York Times

July 29, 2019

America’s much-maligned health care system is covering 9 out of 10 people, a fact that hasn’t stopped the 2020 presidential candidates from refighting battles about how to provide coverage, from Bernie Sanders’ call for replacing private insurance with a government plan to President Donald Trump’s pledge to erase the Affordable Care Act and start over.

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Life-threatening brain aneurysm treated with first-in-U.S. device at Los Robles
Ventura County Star

July 29, 2019

Before aneurysm surgery involving a device that evokes images of a Romanian gymnast, Maria Cram blamed her somersaulting stomach and vaulting headache on food poisoning.

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Doctors in Debt: These Physicians Gladly Struck a Deal With California
The New York Times

July 26, 2019

The state is providing up to $300,000 in debt relief for doctors who agree to accept Medicaid. The grant has lifted “an emotional burden,” one recipient said, adding, “I can focus on my patients.”

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Column: New data show that failing to expand Medicaid has led to 16,000 unnecessary deaths
Los Angeles Times

July 26, 2019

Adversaries of Medicaid expansion have always pointed to the lack of evidence that enrollment in Medicaid improves health and saves lives, and therefore the expansion is a waste.  A new study should put that argument to rest, permanently.

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An anonymous donor asked a hospital where it needed help and gave $25 million to make it happen
CNN Health

July 24, 2019

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles will now be able to help many more kids, thanks to an anonymous $25 million gift.

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LA Care Awards $5 Million to Hire Medical Residents Amid Physician Shortage
Los Angeles Business Journal

July 24, 2019

L.A. Care Health Plan, a publicly operated insurance agency based in Westlake, announced July 22 it is committing more than $5.2 million to establish 14 new residency positions at five medical facilities in L.A. County.

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The real story on health care costs is deeper than one cherry-picked statistic
American Hospital Association

July 18, 2019

Health care costs and hospital prices in particular continue to make headlines. And yet, much of the data used to tell this story is misleading. Often, important facts are omitted in order to make a more compelling case. 

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Treasury expands HDHP preventive care benefits allowed without a deductible
American Hospital Association

July 18, 2019

The Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service today expanded the list of preventive care benefits that high-deductible health plans can cover prior to a deductible for patients with chronic conditions.

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2019 Edition — Californians with Low Incomes
California Healthcare Foundation

July 18, 2019

All Californians should have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Californians with low incomes often face greater barriers to care than those with higher incomes.

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He had $300,000 in medical school debt. California paid it off under a plan to recruit doctors
San Diego Tribune

July 18, 2019

Bryan Ruiz’s hands were still shaking an hour after he learned the $300,000 in medical school loans he took out to become a dentist were being wiped away by California taxpayers.

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Cedars-Sinai Offers $15M to Address Social Determinants of Health
Patient Engagement HIT

July 17, 2019

Los Angeles-based health system Cedars-Sinai is offering $15 million in grant opportunities to target housing and homelessness issues, access to community care clinics, and other institutions addressing the social determinants of health.

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Some providers fear ‘brave new world’ of freed patient health data
Politico

July 16, 2019

Hospital executives, with some support in Congress, are lobbying for more regulation to protect health information from unscrupulous data mongers. But HHS is pushing forward with rules that leave that responsibility in patients’ hands.

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California doesn’t have enough doctors. To recruit them, the state is paying off medical school debt
Los Angeles Times

July 16, 2019

Bryan Ruiz’s hands were still shaking an hour after he learned the $300,000 in medical school loans he took out to become a dentist were being wiped away by California taxpayers.

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Perspective: Post-acute care is a vital part of health care delivery
American Hospital Association

July 15, 2019

In one recent year, the United States saw 3,144,000 traffic injuries, 795,000 strokes and 17,000 spinal cord injuries. When tragedy strikes, we think about the here-and-now: getting to the hospital for emergency care. We aren’t really thinking about what comes next: post-acute care — rehabilitation and recovery — which can be lengthy and complex.

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22% of Those With Rural Healthcare Lack Telehealth Coverage
Healthpayer Intelligence

July 15, 2019

As 25 percent of rural Americans continue to struggle with access to care and about an equal amount turn to telehealth for solutions, experts push payers for better telehealth coverage to improve rural healthcare, according to a new report.

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Child detention is creating a mental health crisis
Axios

July 15, 2019

The children who have been detained in overcrowded, squalid migrant camps at the border aren’t just facing poor living conditions. They are also facing higher risks of serious mental health problems, some of which could be irreparable.

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CA Hospitals: “No One Should Ever Be Afraid to Seek Care Because They Fear Deportation”
California Hospital Association

July 15, 2019

“Caring for the sick and healing the injured is a mission that does not consider the immigration status of those who need help,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association.

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California Could Reduce Welfare Payments To Parents Who Refuse To Vaccinate Their Children
Capital Public Radio

July 15, 2019

A proposal in California that would stiffen immunization requirements for children on welfare has quietly advanced in the Legislature, despite other vaccine proposals sparking protests at the Capitol this year.

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85,000 Kaiser Permanente workers head toward a strike vote
Los Angeles Times

July 15, 2019

Labor unrest is escalating at Kaiser Permanente, with unions for 85,000 of the healthcare giant’s workers saying Friday that they are taking steps toward a potential strike because talks on a new contract had stalled.

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Hoag Hospital makes $3-million commitment toward potential homeless shelter as part of agreement with Newport Beach
Los Angeles Times

July 12, 2019

Hoag Hospital will contribute $3 million over 10 years toward a potential area homeless shelter as a condition of the hospital’s development agreement with the city of Newport Beach.

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California to Repay Loans of Docs Who Take Medicaid Patients
MedScape

July 12, 2019

California has launched a program that will repay young doctors’ medical school loans if they agree to carry a caseload 30% of which consists of patients on Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program.

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FCC approves new telehealth pilot program, issues proposed rulemaking
American Hospital Association

July 11, 2019

The Federal Communications Commission today voted unanimously to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a new $100 million “Connected Care Pilot Program” to support telehealth for low-income Americans, including veterans and those living in rural areas.

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California Is Shoring Up Obamacare, Even As Trump Is Sabotaging It
Huffington Post

July 11, 2019

Hundreds of thousands and maybe more than a million people in California will have an easier time getting health insurance next year, thanks to a package of reforms that could be a model for other states and eventually the federal government as well.

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Hospitals Block ‘Surprise Billing’ Measure
California Healthline

July 11, 2019

Citing fierce pushback from hospitals, California lawmakers sidelined a bill Wednesday that would have protected some patients from surprise medical bills by limiting how much hospitals could charge them for emergency care.

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Erasing Obamacare Could Undermine Trump’s Own Health Initiatives
The New York Times

July 11, 2019

In court, the Trump administration is trying to get all of Obamacare erased. But at the White House, President Trump and his health officials are busily using the law to pursue key proposals.

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A black mother told not to scream in labor asks: Can California fix racism in maternity care?
CalMatters

July 11, 2019

Bettye Jean Ford was in her second trimester when the pressure she had been feeling in her abdomen for weeks turned to excruciating pain. She rushed to a Los Angeles emergency room, where she was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home with antibiotics. Still cramping severely, the first-time expectant mother spent the next 24 hours trying to sleep.

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California takes on surprise bills, over hospital objections
Associated Press

July 10, 2019

Jiggy Athilingam was riding a bicycle in San Francisco five years ago when suddenly she was on a bed in the hallway of a hospital.  “What happened?” she asked.

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AFM ‘Season’ Starts With 11 Cases, CDC Urges Docs to Be Vigilant, Report Early
MedScape

July 9, 2019

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) typically spikes in the late summer to early fall “season,” but federal health officials are already warning clinicians to be on high alert for the paralyzing disorder, which has struck 11 young children so far this year.

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Hospitals add 11,200 jobs in June
American Hospital Association

July 9, 2019

Employment at the nation’s hospitals rose by 0.21% in June to a seasonally adjusted 5,244,900 people, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

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Aid in Dying Soon Will be Available to More Americans. Few Will Choose It.
The New York Times

July 9, 2019

On Aug. 1, New Jersey will become the eighth state to allow doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients who want to end their lives. On Sept. 15, Maine will become the ninth.

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Obamacare in Jeopardy as Appeals Court Hears Case Backed by Trump
The New York Times

July 9, 2019

A federal appeals court panel will hear arguments Tuesday on whether a federal judge in Texas was correct in striking down the Affordable Care Act, a case with enormous stakes not only for millions of people who gained health insurance through the law but for the political futures of President Trump and other candidates in the 2020 elections.

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FDA issues draft guidance on drug dependence, usage labeling
American Hospital Association

July 5, 2019

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday released new draft guidance for labeling medications that carry the risk of abuse or dependence, including but not limited to opioids, and simplifying labels with complicated usage instructions.

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Three Judges, One Hearing: At Stake on July 9, the ACA’s Future
MedScape

July 5, 2019

On July 9, a three-judge panel at the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hear from both sides on whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is constitutional or should be struck from the law books.

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Apple Opens iPhone EHR Feature to All Healthcare Organizations
MedScape

July 5, 2019

Apple has announced that it will allow any US healthcare organization with a compatible electronic health record (EHR) to register with its mobile Health Records feature, according to a tweet from Ricky Bloomfield, MD, Apple’s clinical and health informatics lead.

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Los Angeles County Provides Strong Oversight of Mental Health Programs
PEW Trusts

July 3, 2019

After California lawmakers passed legislation in 2004 to expand access to community mental health services, officials in Los Angeles County knew they had to ensure that their programs were effective to take full advantage of possible new resources—and to best serve their communities.

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California pays down their student loans, doctors agree to treat poorer patients
CALMatters

July 3, 2019

It’s a trade aimed at getting more doctors to treat poorer patients: California this week said it will  help repay the student loans of 247 selected doctors in exchange for their promise that at least 30 percent of their caseload will be people enrolled in Medi-Cal.

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Hospitals can apply for ASPR funding to create pediatric disaster care centers
American Hospital Association

July 2, 2019

Hospitals and health systems may apply through Aug. 27 for a portion of $3 million in funding to create Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence to enhance pediatric care during public health crises, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response announced last week.

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2018 Edition — Mental Health in California
California Healthcare Foundation

July 2, 2019

Mental health disorders are among the most common health conditions faced by Californians: Nearly 1 in 6 California adults experience a mental illness of some kind, and 1 in 24 have a serious mental illness that makes it difficult to carry out major life activities. One in 13 children has an emotional disturbance that limits participation in daily activities.

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California’s 1st Surgeon General Spotlights Health Risks Of Childhood Adversity
NPR

July 2, 2019

Not long after she finished her medical residency at Stanford University about a decade ago, Nadine Burke Harris got to work as a pediatrician in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. She founded and became CEO of a clinic there, focused on addressing health disparities in the community.

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Climate Change Is a Public Health Emergency, Medical Groups Warn
MedScape

July 2, 2019

A total of 74 medical and public health groups issued a call to action against climate change last week, describing it as a public health emergency that threatens the health, safety, and well-being of millions of Americans. Climate change was also described as a major health opportunity to “deliver immediate and sustained health benefits to all.”

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Healthcare workforce development: New strategies for new demands
Healthcare IT News

July 1, 2019

The healthcare workforce is evolving, often by necessity, thanks to the same gravitational forces that are affecting the rest of the industry and the economy at large: technological advances, competitive market forces, shifting imperatives that demand new skill sets, challenges with job satisfaction and burnout.

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Market Insights: Behavioral Health Integration
American Hospital Association

July 1, 2019

Behavioral health disorders have significant impact on individual and community health, utilization of services and costs. Hospitals and health systems are shifting their focus to treating the whole patient and creating a continuum of care that reflects integration at each point in a patient’s journey to better health. This means integrating behavioral health services into every aspect of patient care, as well as coordinating and connecting with community resources.

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Perspective: Hitting the right mark on transparency
American Hospital Association

July 1, 2019

On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at promoting health care price and quality transparency. The AHA appreciates the Administration’s efforts to promote health care transparency on price and quality, and strongly supports equipping patients with useful and meaningful information they need to make informed decisions about their care and its cost. 

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Surgeons Are Still Prescribing Opioids at Alarming Rates
KQED

July 1, 2019

As opioid addiction and deadly overdoses escalated into an epidemic across the U.S., thousands of surgeons continued to hand out far more pills than needed for postoperative pain relief, according to a Kaiser Health News-Johns Hopkins analysis of Medicare data.

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Glendora Community Hospital to Close Acute Care Facility
Los Angeles Business Journal

July 1, 2019

Glendora Community Hospital will close its acute care facility and eliminate 184 positions beginning in September as it transitions to a behavioral health facility, according to layoff disclosures released June 25 by the state’s Employment Development Department.

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State Lawmakers Eye Federal Dollars To Boost Mental Health Counseling By Peers
California Healthline

July 1, 2019

It’s 1 p.m. on a balmy Oakland afternoon as residents of Great Expectations Residential Care, a home for people with mental illness, gather in an activity room for a game of bingo.

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In 2016 alone, 340B Tax-exempt Hospitals Provided More Than $56 Billion in Total Benefits to Their Communities
American Hospital Association

June 27, 2019

Improving the health of their communities is at the heart of every hospital’s mission. For example, every year, taxexempt hospitals demonstrate accountability to the communities they serve by filing a report on the benefits they provide to their community using the IRS Form 990 Schedule H and making it publicly available. In 2016, tax-exempt hospitals participating in the 340B drug savings program provided $56.1B in total benefits to their communities

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California Hospitals See Massive Surge In Homeless Patients
California Healthline

June 27, 2019

Homeless patients made about 100,000 visits to California hospitals in 2017, marking a 28% rise from two years earlier, according to the most recent state discharge data.

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With Rare Comity, Senate Panel Advances Bills to Lower Health Costs
The New York Times

June 27, 2019

The Senate health committee approved a package of bills on Wednesday aimed at lowering the cost of medical care, from ending surprise medical bills to curbing prescription drug price surges, with a rare bipartisan vote that could vault it toward final passage.

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Appellate court raises new threat to Obamacare
Politico

June 27, 2019

A federal appeals court this afternoon questioned whether Democratic states and the House of Representatives have the right to appeal a court ruling that declared all of Obamacare unconstitutional.

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California Public Health cautions against West Nile virus
KRON

June 27, 2019

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a press release this afternoon cautioning the public to protect themselves from an increase in West Nile virus (WNV) activity.

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California’s new budget invests in overlooked piece of health care puzzle: workers
CalMatters

June 27, 2019
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Overdose deaths may be on the decline
Axios

June 26, 2019

For the first time in decades, the number of overdose deaths in the U.S. may finally be falling, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing provisional government data.

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Telemedicine Use Increasing, Parallels Growth of Parity Laws
MedScape

June 26, 2019

Patients’ use of telemedicine has grown rapidly since 2005, new data show. However, use of telemedicine overall is still relatively uncommon and often may be influenced more by a desire for convenience than a dearth of clinicians.

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City of Hope invests $1B in new cancer hospital
Becker's Hospital Review

June 26, 2019

Nearly half of the investment will be spent on building and buying the new facilities. The property City of Hope is acquiring includes a four-story building, which will be updated and used as a center for cancer research and treatment. City of Hope will also build a hospital, which will be completed by 2025, City of Hope President and CEO Robert Stone told the Los Angeles Times.

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New Budget Boosts Health Coverage For Low-Income Californians
Kaiser Health News

June 26, 2019

Ann Manganello survives entirely off her Social Security stipend: $1,391 a month.  That doesn’t amount to much in the pricey desert enclave of Palm Springs, Calif. — especially for someone who contends with a host of expensive medical problems, including a blood vessel disorder, complications from a recent stroke and frequent bouts of colitis.

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Mandated staffing ratios would cost $3B a year: hospital association
Crain's New York Business

June 26, 2019

Legislation that would mandate nurse staffing ratios for all hospitals and nursing homes in the state would cost providers $3 billion a year, according to the Greater New York Hospital Association.

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Trump Outlines Goals for Healthcare Price Transparency
MedScape

June 24, 2019

President Donald J. Trump on Monday signed an executive order that outlines goals for federal agencies to carry out actions to make the costs of healthcare more transparent to consumers.

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California Budget Restores Adult Medi-Cal Benefits Cut a Decade Ago
California Health Report

June 24, 2019

In 2009, as the Great Recession bore down on California, lawmakers cut coverage of eyeglasses, podiatry, speech therapy and other benefits from the state’s low-income health program.

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Improving Quality in Medi-Cal Managed Care
California Healthcare Foundation

June 20, 2019

Everyone in Medi-Cal, regardless of where they live or their managed care plan, should have the same opportunity to get timely, high-quality care. But today access and quality of care varies widely within the Medi-Cal managed care system.

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California Tests a Digital ‘Fire Alarm’ for Mental Distress
The New York Times

June 18, 2019

Last winter, several dozen people who were struggling with suicidal urges and bouts of intense emotion opened their lives to a company called Mindstrong, in what has become a closely watched experiment in Silicon Valley.

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Manly Strides to Better Health
Our Health California

June 18, 2019

Men have some different health care concerns than women, but the preliminary steps to solve and prevent them — regular checkups and screenings — are the same. That’s why it’s so troubling that men are 24% less likely to seek out regular medical care. Take a moment to read through some tips to help you, or the men in your life, ensure you get the care you need.

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California vaccine bill amended to allow more exemptions, win Gavin Newsom’s support
The Sacramento Bee

June 18, 2019

A controversial bill that restricts vaccine medical exemptions for students enrolling in California schools was amended on Tuesday to secure the support of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration two weeks after Newsom raised concerns about the measure.

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Democratic Voters Want To Hear Candidates’ Views On Health, But Priorities Vary
Kaiser Health News

June 18, 2019

With the first Democratic debates a week away, health care is the top issue the party’s voters say they want candidates to address, according to a poll released Tuesday.  But what they mean by that varies widely.

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Kaiser Permanente to build new $900 million Oakland headquarters
San Francisco Chronicle

June 17, 2019

Health care giant Kaiser Permanente plans to construct a 1.6 million-square-foot headquarters in Oakland, creating one of the largest new buildings in the Bay Area.

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Researchers: Medicaid Expansion Equals Better Coverage, Better Outcomes
California Health Care Foundation

June 14, 2019

California has long been a leader in expanding the eligibility criteria for enrollment in Medicaid. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), states can expand Medicaid to cover more adults with low incomes, and California was among the first to do so with its program, Medi-Cal. To date, 36 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the expansion, and newly released research suggests residents in those places are experiencing tangible improvements in their health and well-being as a result.

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Building a Relationship with Good Health
Our Health California

June 14, 2019

Some love stories are about romance. This one is about a doctor—and the six people who fell in love with him.  Marta Cano, 72, woke up in the middle of the night, short of breath. Her blood pressure was soaring. She felt terrible. Her younger sister Rosario didn’t hesitate.

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Senators Seek Drop-In Centers for Youth in Mental Health Crisis
California Health Report

June 12, 2019

A bill making its way through the California legislature seeks to establish 100 youth drop-in centers across the state to support young people with mental health, substance use and physical health issues.

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How Much Do You Know About Men’s Health?
Our Health California

June 11, 2019

Did you know that in 2018 there will be an estimated 164,690 new prostate cancer diagnoses in the United States? That 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime?

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How Measles Detectives Work To Contain An Outbreak
California Healthline

June 11, 2019

Across the nation, public health departments are redirecting scarce resources to try to control the spread of measles. Their success relies on shoe-leather detective work that is one of the great untold costs of the measles resurgence.

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Legal Promise Of Equal Mental Health Treatment Often Falls Short
California Healthline

June 11, 2019

Amanda Bacon’s eating disorder was growing worse. She had lost 60% of her body weight and was consuming about 100 calories a day.

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Hospitals add 3,000 jobs in May
American Hospital Association

June 10, 2019

Employment at the nation’s hospitals rose by 0.06% in May to a seasonally adjusted 5,231,600 people, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

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Perspective: The ACA is working – let’s make it work even better
American Hospital Association

June 10, 2019

That’s the headline from last Sunday’s edition of The Washington Post. The article looks at new research on the Affordable Care Act’s effect on health.   
The verdict: The ACA is having a positive impact on the health of individuals and communities. It has increased access, reduced disparities and improved equity of care among cancer patients, and it is helping providers identify ovarian cancer earlier so patients can start treatment sooner.

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California lawmakers agree to health benefits for immigrants
KCRA News

June 10, 2019

California will become the first state to pay for some adults living in the country illegally to have full health benefits as the solidly liberal bastion continues to resist the policies of Republican President Donald Trump’s administration.

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Expiring subsidies for Medi-Cal patients threaten REACH and other air ambulance services
The Press Democrat

June 10, 2019

Air ambulance services that provide a critical lifeline to sick and injured people in remote areas of the North Coast are warning they could be forced to cut services sharply unless the Legislature replaces subsidies that are scheduled to expire at year’s end.

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Palliative Care Faces Staffing Shortages as ‘Workforce Valley’ Looms
HealthLeaders Media

June 6, 2019

The palliative care workforce is stretched thin and staffing shortages will worsen dramatically unless lawmakers and healthcare organizations adopt new policies, according to research published this week.

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U.S. Records 1,000th Case of Measles, Officials Blame Misinformation for Outbreak
Reuters

June 6, 2019

The United States has recorded 1,001 measles cases so far this year in the worst outbreak of the highly contagious disease in more than a quarter-century, federal health officials said on Wednesday as they issued a new plea for parents to vaccinate their children.

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V.A. Prepares for Major Shift in Veterans’ Health Care
The New York Times

June 6, 2019

The Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday will begin allowing a broad section of its nine million enrollees to seek medical care outside of traditional V.A. hospitals, the biggest shift in the American health care system since the passage of the Affordable Care Act nearly a decade ago.

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Should California provide health care to all undocumented immigrants? Influencers weigh in Read more here
The Sacramento Bee

June 5, 2019

California Influencers this week answered the question: What is California’s obligation in terms of providing health care to undocumented immigrants? Below are the Influencers’ answers in their entirety.

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Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Plots Two-Decade Expansion
Urbanize LA

June 3, 2019

A draft environmental impact report now being circulated by Los Angeles County provides an in-depth look at Sylmar’s Olive View-UCLA Medical Center proposed master plan.

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Transforming Medicaid: How Andy Slavitt, AVIA and 28 Health Systems Plan to Improve Care for Underserved Patients
Healthcare Innovation

June 3, 2019

Even though his time as chief of Medicare and Medicaid came to an end in January 2017 with the change in administrations, Andy Slavitt’s passion to transform the nation’s healthcare system has never waned. In fact, since he left his post as Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in January 2017, that dedication might have only amplified.

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HRSA announces funding for projects to improve maternal health
American Hospital Association

June 3, 2019

Community-based organizations and others can apply through July 15 for funding to address maternal health disparities and improve outcomes, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced yesterday. T

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Are Surprises Ahead For Legislation To Curb Surprise Medical Bills?
California Healthline

June 3, 2019

Surprise medical bills — those unexpected and often pricey bills patients face when they get care from a doctor or hospital that isn’t in their insurance network — are the health care problem du jour in Washington, with congressional lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and the White House calling for action.

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The Affordable Care Act erased a racial disparity in cancer care, a new study says
STAT

June 3, 2019

The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in 2010 nearly erased a key disparity in access to cancer care for white and African-American patients, according to a new study.

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Hospital CEOs: Boards lack younger members, term limits, succession plans
Becker's Hospital Review

May 30, 2019

Formal succession plans for CEOs and term limits are some of the opportunities CEOs identified as ways to improve hospital governance, according to a survey from the American Hospital Association.

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Hospital groups oppose rate-setting provision in surprise bill proposal
American Hospital Association

May 30, 2019

Commenting on the rate-setting provision of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s legislative proposal to address surprise medical bills, the AHA, America’s Essential Hospitals, Association of American Medical Colleges, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Children’s Hospital Association, and Federation of American Hospitals said they oppose establishing a benchmark payment to resolve out-of-network payment disputes between providers and insurers and asked that the committee instead consider an independent dispute resolution process.

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Escalating Workplace Violence Rocks Hospitals
MedScape

May 30, 2019

Across the country, many doctors, nurses and other health care workers have remained silent about what is being called an epidemic of violence against them.

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Behavioral Health
American Hospital Association

May 28, 2019

Behavioral health disorders affect nearly one in five Americans and have community-wide impacts.

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Before international travel: Make sure you’re protected against measles
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

May 28, 2019

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from measles is by getting vaccinated. You should plan to be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before you depart. If your trip is less than 2 weeks away and you’re not protected against measles, you should still get a dose of MMR vaccine. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine protects against all 3 diseases. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide 97% protection against measles; one dose provides 93% protection.

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AHA argues nonprofit hospitals more than make up for lost tax revenue
American Hospital Association

May 28, 2019

Federal tax revenue foregone in 2016 because of the tax-exempt status of nonprofit hospitals totaled $9 billion, but those hospitals spent more than 10 times that amount in providing community benefits, according to the American Hospital Association.

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Lawmakers Push To Stop Surprise ER Billing
California Healthline

May 28, 2019

California has some of the nation’s strongest protections against surprise medical bills. But many Californians still get slammed with huge out-of-network charges.

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Use Of Buprenorphine To Treat Opioid Addiction Proliferates In California
Kaiser Health News

May 24, 2019

Buprenorphine, a relative newcomer in the treatment of opioid addiction, is growing in popularity among California doctors as regulatory changes, physician training and other initiatives make the medication more widely accessible.

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Bipartisan senators reveal sweeping health care package
The Hill

May 24, 2019

A sweeping draft legislative package from the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Health Committee seeks to lower health care costs by addressing surprise medical bills and adding transparency to drug prices, among other provisions.

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Behavioral Health
American Hospital Association

May 22, 2019

Hospitals and health systems provide essential behavioral health care services to millions of Americans every day.

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TAX-EXEMPT HOSPITALS PROVIDED $95 BILLION IN TOTAL BENEFITS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, FAR EXCEEDING THE VALUE OF THEIR FEDERAL TAX EXEMPTION: NEW ANALYSIS
American Hospital Association

May 22, 2019

New analysis prepared by Ernst & Young LLP (EY) and released today by the American Hospital Association (AHA) shows that tax-exempt hospitals provided $95 billion in total benefits to their communities in 2016 alone, the most recent year for which comprehensive data is available. This means that hospitals’ and health systems’ community benefit activity outweighs the value of their federal tax exemption – which was $9 billion in 2016 – by a factor of nearly 11 to one.    

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BHA co-chairs encouraged by historic appointment of “Mental Health Czar”
Behavioral Health Action

May 22, 2019

Behavioral Health Action applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom for his leadership and making California’s behavioral health crisis a top priority of his administration. His choice of Dr. Thomas Insel to be California’s key advisor on mental health issues is historic, and this move takes us in exactly the direction we need in order to benefit the Golden State now and in the future.

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California crackdown on vaccine exemptions moves one step closer to becoming law
The Sacramento Bee

May 22, 2019

A bill that would crack down on medical exemptions for mandatory vaccines passed the California Senate floor on Wednesday, bringing the state one step closer to gaining control over who gets to pass on vaccinations.

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The 2020 health care election
Axios

May 22, 2019

Amid the hullabaloo over purported immigrant hordes, alleged Chinese perfidy on trade and a Green New Deal, Americans — crossing lines of age, party and gender — are united in what they really care about, according to a new poll: Health care.

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Market Insights: Evolving Care Models
American Hospital Association

May 20, 2019

Hospitals and health systems across the country are redesigning care delivery to improve quality and outcomes, enhance patient experience, and reduce costs with the ultimate goal of better population health.

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For families across California, a desperate struggle to get mental health care
CALmatters

May 20, 2019

Around California, people with mental illness—and their family members—describe pleading with insurance providers for treatment.

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No Mercy: How A Kansas Town Is Grappling With Its Hospital’s Closure
NPR

May 17, 2019

A slight drizzle had begun in the gray December sky outside Community Christian Church as Reta Baker, president of the local hospital, stepped through the doors to join a weekly morning coffee organized by the Fort Scott, Kan., chamber of commerce.

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Exclusive: the new bipartisan House bill to stop surprise medical bills, explained
Voxx

May 15, 2019

Congress is ramping up its push to stop surprise medical bills.

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The Hospital Story Is Everyone’s Story
California Hospital Association

May 15, 2019

Because this week is National Hospital Week, CHA has taken to the digital airwaves to celebrate as broadly as possible the multi-faceted, rich, and human narrative that is the hospital story.

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Will an All-Payer System Lower Health Care Costs?
The Regulatory Review

May 15, 2019

“It’s the prices, stupid.”

This has been a leading critique of the U.S. health care system since 2003, when a major study found its prices higher than those in other developed nations. The study found that even though the United States spends a considerable amount of its gross domestic product on health care, its population consumes fewer health care services than other developed nations.

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Could Expanding Nurse’s Scope of Care Help Fight the Opioid Epidemic in California?
KQED

May 14, 2019

When it comes to treating opioid addiction, most health care experts say nurses have a critical role to play in prescribing the lifesaving medication buprenorphine.

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National Hospital Week Celebrating Hope and Healing
American Hospital Association

May 14, 2019

National Hospital Week 2019 celebrates hope and healing, and the hospitals, health systems, and the women and men who support the health and well-being of their communities through dedication and care from the heart.

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KFF Health Tracking Poll – April 2019: Surprise Medical Bills and Public’s View of the Supreme Court and Continuing Protections for People With Pre-Existing Conditions
Kaiser Family Foundation

May 14, 2019

The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions continue to weigh heavily on the minds of Americans, especially in light of the ongoing legal battle on the future of the ACA.

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It’s time to get the votes. Gavin Newsom hits the road to promote his health care idea
The Sacramento Bee

May 14, 2019

As the deadline to strike a budget deal approaches, Gov. Gavin Newsom is launching a statewide tour to promote his plans to shore up Obamacare and expand state health coverage to young undocumented adults.

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‘John Doe’ Patients Sometimes Force Hospital Staff To Play Detective
California Healthline

May 13, 2019

The 50-something man with a shaved head and brown eyes was unresponsive when the paramedics wheeled him into the emergency room. His pockets were empty: no wallet, no cellphone, not a single scrap of paper that might reveal his identity to the nurses and doctors working to save his life. His body lacked any distinguishing scars or tattoos.

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