California Archives

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Looking Ahead to the Lame-Duck Session

Congress won’t be back in Washington until after Election Day, but lawmakers have left themselves a long list of items to finish up in November and December, including unfinished health care policies. Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call; Jessie Hellmann, also of CQ Roll Call; and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN’s Sam Whitehead, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” episode about a family who tried to use urgent care to save money, but ended up with a big emergency room bill anyway.

Oct. 6, 2022

A photo shows someone using a tablet to place bets on FanDuel, an online sports betting service. A football game is seen on the TV in the background.

Addiction Experts Fear the Fallout if California Legalizes Sports Betting

If California voters approve one or both sports-wagering initiatives on the November ballot, psychiatrists anticipate more cases of problem gambling and gambling addiction. They’re especially concerned about online betting, a very addictive way to play.

By Mark Kreidler

Oct. 5, 2022

A photo shows Ana Gonzalez posing for a portrait outside of her home.

Environmental Justice Leader Says Proposition 30 Would Help Struggling Areas Clear the Air

Ana Gonzalez, who leads an environmental justice group in the Inland Empire, has endorsed Proposition 30, a ballot initiative backed by the ride-hailing company Lyft that would tax millionaires to fund zero-emission vehicle subsidies and electric charging stations. She contends most state policies overlook marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected by air pollution.

By Heidi de Marco

Sept. 29, 2022

Signage outside the Billings Clinic in Billings, Montana

KHN Impact

Montana Health Officials Aim to Boost Oversight of Nonprofit Hospitals’ Giving

Montana is one of the latest states seeking to increase oversight of nonprofit hospitals’ giving to ensure they justify their tax-exempt status.

By Katheryn Houghton

Sept. 28, 2022

A close-up photo shows someone filling out an insurance form with a pen.

Medi-Cal Makeover

Health Plan Shake-Up Could Disrupt Coverage for Low-Income Californians

Four managed-care insurance plans may lose contracts with California’s Medicaid program, which would force nearly 2 million low-income residents to switch their health plans — and possibly their doctors. The plans are fighting back.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

Sept. 27, 2022

A digital illustration in pencil and watercolor. A mother, painted in lively pinks and golds with vibrant red hair, holds a ghostly, colorless outline of her baby, who is wrapped in medical bills.

The Cruelest Bills

Shattered Dreams and Bills in the Millions: Losing a Baby in America

On top of fearing for their children’s lives, new parents of very fragile, very sick infants can face exorbitant hospital bills — even if they have insurance. Medical bills don’t go away if a child dies.

By Lauren Weber

Sept. 23, 2022

A photo shows a toddler lying asleep in bed, being checked with a stethoscope.

Shift in Child Hospice Care Is a Lifeline for Parents Seeking a Measure of Comfort and Hope

Terminally ill children, unlike adults, can get hospice services while continuing to receive life-extending or curative care. More than a decade after the inception of the federal policy, it is widely credited with improving the quality of life for ailing children and their families, even as some parents find themselves in a painful stasis.

By Bernard J. Wolfson

Sept. 22, 2022

KHN & PolitiFact HealthCheck

Opponents of California’s Abortion Rights Measure Mislead on Expense to Taxpayers

California Together, which opposes Proposition 1, warns that taxpayers will pay millions more if the abortion rights constitutional amendment passes because it would attract women from out of state. We take a closer look.

By Rachel Bluth

Sept. 22, 2022

A chart shows the rise, fall and rise again of COVID-19 being California's leading cause of death.

Picture of Health

Covid Still Kills, but the Demographics of Its Victims Are Shifting

Californians were far less likely to die from covid in the first seven months of 2022 than during the first two years of the pandemic. Still, the virus remained among the state’s leading causes of death in July, outpacing diabetes, accidental death, and a host of debilitating diseases. We break down who’s at risk.

By Phillip Reese

Sept. 21, 2022

A photo shows a judge's gavel resting on a surface surrounded by shadows.

Centene to Pay $166 Million to Texas in Medicaid Drug Pricing Settlement

Texas is at least the 12th state to settle with St. Louis-based Centene Corp. over allegations that it overcharged Medicaid prescription drug programs.

By Andy Miller and Samantha Young

Sept. 19, 2022

KHN On Air

Journalists Look Into Wildfire Trauma and the South’s Monkeypox Response

KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Sept. 17, 2022

A photo shows U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock, his wife, Lori, and daughter, Shannah, at an event. Signs around them read, "McClintock for Congress."

Experts Question the Role of White Mulberry in the Death of Congressman’s Wife

The Sacramento County coroner concluded that Lori McClintock, the wife of U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock, died of dehydration after ingesting white mulberry leaf. But some scientists, doctors, and pathologists are questioning that ruling, and are urging the coroner’s office, which hasn’t explained its reasoning, to reopen the case.

By Samantha Young

Sept. 14, 2022

A photo shows men in line outside of a building. They are waiting to get a free monkeypox vaccine.

Southern States’ Lackluster Monkeypox Efforts Leave LGBTQ+ Groups Going It Alone

The gay community is disproportionally affected by the monkeypox outbreak, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says public health efforts should prioritize gay and bisexual men. But in the South, some LGBTQ+ advocates fear that this is not happening consistently. They say they are having to take matters into their own hands in the absence of a coordinated response from state governments.

By Daniel Chang and Colleen DeGuzman

Sept. 14, 2022

A photo shows pills on a bathroom scale surrounded by a human-shaped cookie cutter, suggesting weight loss.

California and New York Aim to Curb Diet Pill Sales to Minors

California and New York would be the first states to require anyone under 18 to obtain prescriptions to purchase over-the-counter weight loss products, which some research has linked to eating disorders.

By Laurie Udesky

Sept. 14, 2022

A man in a black tank-top stands outside amongst trees and bushes, looking off-camera to his right.

Medical Coding Creates Barriers to Care for Transgender Patients

The codes used by U.S. medical providers to bill insurers haven’t caught up to the needs of trans patients or even international standards. Consequently, doctors are forced to get creative with what codes they use, or patients spend hours fighting big out-of-pocket bills.

By Helen Santoro

Sept. 13, 2022

A photo shows the exterior of BeverlyCare.

Hospitals Divert Primary Care Patients to Health Center ‘Look-Alikes’ to Boost Finances

Medicare and Medicaid pay “look-alike” health centers significantly more than hospitals for treating patients, and converting or creating clinics can help hospitals reduce their expenses.

By Phil Galewitz

Sept. 9, 2022

A photo shows the Bravo family together outside their home.

Postcard From Sonoma

Children in Northern California Learn to Cope With Wildfire Trauma

Doctors and health officials say more children in the state are growing up with wildfire, which can cause stress, depression, anxiety, and other lasting trauma. Experts say there are ways to help kids stay calm.

By Heidi de Marco

Sept. 9, 2022

Watch: The Mysterious Death of a Congressman’s Wife

KHN senior correspondent Samantha Young appeared on CBS News to discuss her reporting on the death of Lori McClintock, the wife of U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.). She died after ingesting white mulberry leaf, according to the Sacramento County coroner. Young also explained her reporting process on Twitter and TikTok.

Sept. 6, 2022

A man wearing a suit stands in a legislative chamber a looks at something out of frame.

‘He Stood His Ground’: California State Senator Will Leave Office as Champion of Tough Vaccine Laws

California state Sen. Richard Pan, who spearheaded some of the country’s most ambitious vaccine mandate legislation, is leaving office this year because of term limits. A pediatrician, he plans to practice medicine full time but has not ruled out a future run for office.

By Angela Hart

Sept. 6, 2022

Hospitals Cut Jobs and Services as Rising Costs Strain Budgets

More than two years into the pandemic, hospital budgets are beginning to crack. One of the biggest drivers of financial shortfalls has been the cost to find workers.

By Katheryn Houghton

Aug. 26, 2022

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