California
Small Hospital’s Bankruptcy Highlights Rural Healthcare Crisis
A failed merger left Madera Community Hospital closed while its biggest creditor pushes to liquidate.
+States
California
California’s $11 Billion Bet to Fix Broken Medicaid Access
California redirects billions to raise Medi-Cal pay after years of rock-bottom provider rates.
Abortion
Abortion Rights, Drug Shortages, and Climate: Health Policy Update
KFF Health News podcast covers abortion access battles, cancer drug shortages, and congressional inaction on climate.
Health Care Costs
Montana Vetoes Plan to End Assisted Living Waitlist for Medicaid Patients
Republican governor rejects bipartisan bill that would have eliminated Montana's Medicaid assisted living waiting list.
California
How Pandemic Drinking Is Fueling a Deadly Surge in Liver Disease
Alcoholic liver disease deaths jumped 25% in California after COVID lockdowns sparked heavier drinking
California
California Settlement Boosts Health Care for Disabled Ex-Inmates
Extended prescriptions and faster Medi-Cal enrollment required under new parole rules.
California
What the New Pregnant Workers Law Leaves Unanswered
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is now law, but science lags behind in identifying actual workplace risks for expectant mothers.
Cancer
Why Medical Crowdfunding Fails Black Patients More Often
Research reveals racial gaps in online medical fundraising as structural barriers limit campaign success for Black Americans
California
California’s Homeless Crisis: Why Most Are Locals, Not Migrants
New UC research shows nearly all homeless adults in California lost housing while already living there, reshaping the policy debate.
COVID-19
Tennessee Doctor Loses License for Signing COVID Vaccine Exemptions Without Seeing Patient
A 76-year-old Tennessee physician has surrendered his license after signing COVID-19 vaccine exemptions through an online service without examining…
California
Foster Care Collapse: Sleeping in Casino Hotels
Rural foster care systems are failing — children housed in casino hotel rooms for 89 days as licensed homes disappear…
Dental Health
Dental Therapists: The Mid-Level Fix for Rural Tooth Care
How dental therapists are filling the rural dentistry gap — and why some states still won't license them.