Morning Breakouts

Latest California Healthline Stories

Latest Bid To Kill Health Law Gets Day In Court, Giving Dems A Possible Gift As Midterm Season Enters Final Stretch

If the judge rules that the health law is unconstitutional because Congress zeroed-out the individual mandate, 17 million people could lose their insurance and popular provisions — such as protections for preexisting conditions and coverage for young adults up to age 26 — could be wiped out. Democrats are seizing on the challenge as a 2018 campaign talking point. A coalition of 16 states and the District of Columbia, led by California, had intervened to defend the law.

Republicans Brace For Political Fallout As Lawsuit Challenging Health Law Heads For Its Day In Court

The suit challenging the health law’s constitutionality is based out of Texas, where a group of Republican attorneys general are set to face off against a group of Democratic attorneys general. But even Republicans are worried about the impact a ruling could have on midterms. “There’s no question it complicates things for Republicans if a decision comes down in October,” said Rodney Whitlock, a Washington healthcare strategist and former GOP Senate staffer.

‘Sparks Will Fly’: Kavanaugh’s Hearings To Bring Fiery Debate To Hill, But Killing Nomination Is Long-Shot For Dems

Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination hearings will play out over the next four days, with opening statements on Tuesday by senators and Kavanaugh, followed by two days of questioning and a final day of testimony from outside witnesses. Democrats have focused on Kavanaugh’s threat to health care and women’s rights, but have failed to muster much public outrage over the nomination. Media outlets break down what you need to know for this upcoming week.

California Leads The Way On Reducing Maternal Deaths

By forming a committee to create guidelines and toolkits for hospitals to follow, California made huge strides in reducing maternal complications, where that rate has risen nationwide. In other public health news: aid-in-dying, firefighters’ health, a later start to school, and marijuana.

California Tribes’ Struggle With Opioids An Echo Of The Decline Of River That Once Was Their Nourishment

As the Klamath River has struggled, so has the health of Native American tribes that live along its Northern California waters. Now, it’s hard to find anyone among the Yurok, the Karuk and the Hoopa Indians who has not been touched by the heroin epidemic.