By Daniel Weintraub Californians eat more fruits and vegetables than other Americans, refrain from smoking, keep their blood pressure under control and do a decent amount of physical activity. But our health, overall, is still worse than the residents of 21 other states, according to a recent report. Why? A big reason might be a category in which California ranks at the very bottom of
Author: Daniel Weintraub
By Daniel Weintraub Republicans in Congress will soon make good on their long-held promise to pass legislation repealing much if not all of the Affordable Care Act, the federal health reform widely known as Obamacare. President Obama, of course, will promptly veto the bill, but Republicans see their action as a message to voters demonstrating what they will do if a Republican wins the White
By Daniel Weintraub California’s economy may not be booming, but it is definitely on the mend. The Bay Area is churning out high-tech profits and high-wage jobs. In other parts of the state, unemployment is inching down toward full-employment levels. And as always when California’s economy improves, tax revenues are soaring. With an income tax system highly dependent on the wealthy and their investment income,
By Barbara Feder Ostrov, Kaiser News Cancer patients insured by California’s health plan for low-income people are less likely to get recommended treatment and also have lower survival rates than patients with other types of insurance, according to a new study by University of California-Davis researchers. While other studies have linked Medicaid insurance status to worse cancer outcomes, the UC-Davis study appears to be the
Sometimes the U.S. health care system can seem stuck in the last century: overly centralized, bureaucratic, and definitely not consumer-friendly. But behind the scenes a scientific revolution is taking shape that will likely transform medicine, even if the administrative side of the industry isn’t quite ready for it.
The San Jose Zoo has a program for seniors to help them stay active. Terminally ill patients have to wait until at least April to use California’s new assisted-death law. For low-wage workers, even an affordable health plan can seem out of reach. Those from certain racial groups and who are low-income spend more time finding a doctor. An L.A. clinic will provide free mental
Women who are victims of domestic violence have an increased risk of contracting HIV and a more difficult time keeping up with treatments, according to women’s health advocates. Citing statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a group of women’s health organizations are trying to raise awareness this month of the link between HIV and domestic violence. One in three women experiences
Are workplace issues the missing link between education and health? Shopping around instead of renewing a health plan can save money. High-deductible plans can cause some people to avoid getting treatment. A new “census” documents the plight of the working poor in Coastal California. Will California’s sweeping new social policies set a trend? A new “census” documents the plight of the working poor in Coastal
Although everyone ends up spending about the same amount of time with a doctor during an appointment, those who are from certain racial groups and who are low-income spend more time and resources getting care, according to a new study. The results of the study, published this month in JAMA Internal Medicine and on the California HealthCare Foundation’s website, show that blacks and Hispanics spent
A nurse has an idea for bringing health care to people who need it most. Brown signed the assisted death bill, which goes into effect in 2016. With a new complaint phone system, will Medi-Cal enrollees be able to get help? San Francisco’s effective response to AIDS can serve as a model. Children in need of mental health care often wait for days in