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California Healthline Original Stories
‘Medicare For All’ Emerges As Early Divide In First Democratic Debate
On the first of the Democrat’s two-night debate, only New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren offered full support for a single-payer system that would banish private health insurance. (Shefali Luthra and Jon Greenberg, PolitiFact, )
Good morning! An appellate court hearing a case on the constitutionality of the health law questions the standing of Democratic attorneys general, led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, in defending the legislation. Legal experts call it an “ominous” sign for the future of the health law. More on that, as well as recaps of the first night of the Democratic debates, below. But first here are your top California health stories for the day.
Ex-USC Gynecologist George Tyndall Arrested On Sexual Assault Charges Against Student Patients: Dr. George Tyndall, 72, a former USC gynecologist accused by hundreds of patients of molestation and other misconduct over the past three decades, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of sexually assaulting 16 students who were under his care. Tyndall was charged in Los Angeles Superior Court with 29 felony counts of sexual penetration and sexual battery by fraud in a scandal that has already resulted in a $215 million civil settlement in federal court. The physician was taken into custody at 7:45 a.m. as he exited his apartment in a high-rise near Lafayette Park. Los Angeles police said he was carrying a loaded .38-caliber handgun, a concealed weapon for which they said he did not have a permit. Immediately after detectives approached him, the Tyndall began complaining of chest pains and was driven to L.A. County-USC Medical Center for treatment.
The arrest was the capstone of a yearlong investigation that ballooned into the largest sex crimes inquiry involving a single suspect in Los Angeles Police Department history. Michel Moore, the Los Angeles police chief, said his department had assigned 12 full-time detectives to the case. They had traveled to more than 16 states for interviews, he said, and spoken to more than 350 women.
Once the accusations started to emerge, USC faculty and alumni successfully demanded the resignation of the university’s president at the time, C.L. Max Nikias. Dana Loewy — who was a U.S.C. graduate student in 1993 when she said she had an inappropriate examination by Dr. Tyndall — said she was happy that Dr. Tyndall could “be put away now.” But she also hoped it wasn’t the end of the reckoning. “I think U.S.C. should be held accountable, too.”
Read more from Richard Winton and Harriet Ryan of the Los Angeles Times; Jill Cowan of The New York Times; Stefanie Dazio of The Associated Press; Alex Dobuzinskis of Reuters; and Steve Almasy and Stephanie Becker of CNN.
Broad Foundation To Dole Out $30M In Research Grants To Support Scientists’ Work On Developmental Disorders: The gifts to UCLA, USC and UC San Francisco bring the Broad Foundation’s total investment in California stem cell research to $113 million. Scientists at UCSF will use the funding to expand their work on inherited diseases that develop before birth. They intend to use stem cells to create laboratory models of these diseases that can be used to test new drugs. Meanwhile, at UCLA, the new money will help scientists translate basic discoveries into actual treatments for patients. And USC said it would use its gift to bolster the school’s ongoing research efforts, including collaborations between biologists and engineers. The university intends to use some of the funds to recruit additional scientists who can focus on using stem cells to treat diseases that arise due to aging. Read more from Karen Kaplan of the Los Angeles Times.
Below, check out the full round-up of California Healthline original stories, state coverage and the best of the rest of the national news for the day.
More News From Across The State
CALmatters:
With Newsom's Budget, Legislature Breaks In A New Governor
Love was in the air early this year when the newly-inaugurated Gov. Gavin Newsom first proposed his first-ever state budget. Pacing the stage of a packed auditorium, he unveiled his ambitious, $209 billion plan with the studiousness of a policy wonk and the charm of an eager politician. He praised lawmakers by name, tossing verbal valentines at fellow Democrats whose majority party support he needed to approve the budget. “I love this Legislature,” the governor declared. As budget negotiations heated up over the spring, however, lawmakers weren’t as easily wooed as it may have seemed at the outset. (Rosenhall, 6/26)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. Is Getting Millions In State Money For Homelessness. Now L.A. Politicians Want More
California lawmakers agreed this month to hand over $650 million to big cities, counties and regional agencies to help fight homelessness. Now some Los Angeles officials say they want more. Much more.At a news conference Wednesday, City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell urged the state to match the $1.2-billion bond measure that L.A. voters approved in 2016 to build homeless housing, contending that the additional money could be pulled from the state’s reserves. (Reyes and Oreskes, 6/26)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento County CA Homeless Rate Increases To Highest Total
Even as the city and county of Sacramento pour millions of dollars into ending homelessness, a count this year found 1,905 more people living on the streets, in cars or in shelter beds since 2017, raising the estimated number of homeless people countywide to 5,570. The federally mandated count, conducted every two years and released Wednesday by homeless nonprofit Sacramento Steps Forward, is the highest ever recorded number of people living without permanent housing in Sacramento County. (Yoon-Hendricks and Clift, 6/26)
Sacramento Bee:
1 In 5 Homeless In Sacramento County Are 55 Or Older
On a single night in January, about 1,079 older adults – those 55 and over – were homeless in Sacramento County, according to the results of the latest federally mandated census count. About 700 of them were living outside, on the streets or beneath an underpass, or in an tent encampment. Seniors were more likely to sleep in the elements compared to the general homeless population in the county, the report found. (Yoon-Hendricks, 6/27)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Board Of Supervisors Approves Aegis Treatment Centers To Provide Narcotic Treatment
During the June 18 Kern County Board of Supervisor meeting, Aegis Treatment Centers was given approval for a sole source agreement to provide narcotic treatment program services for adults with narcotic or opiate dependency residing in Delano from July 1 through June 30, 2020. With this agreement, Aegis will provide narcotic treatment program services for Medi-Cal beneficiaries, pregnant women and the indigent population for narcotic or opiate dependency services, said Zachary Wakefield, field representative for District 4 Supervisor David Couch. The narcotic treatment program includes the administration of methadone doses, individual and group counseling and related services that support recovery. (Garaygordobil 6/27)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento County Promotes And Supports National HIV Testing Day
Thursday is National HIV Testing Day, with free testing, care and treatment offered throughout the Sacramento region, according to the county Public Health Department. National HIV Testing Day is “a day to encourage people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment if they have HIV,” said Sacramento County Health Department spokeswoman Brenda Bongiorno in an email to The Bee. “This year’s theme, Doing It, Testing for HIV, reminds us that HIV testing should be a part of everyone’s regular health screening routine.” (Ghisolfi, 6/26)
KRON:
California Public Health Cautions Against West Nile Virus
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. The virus, which is active from late spring to early fall, is seeing more activity as winter rains turn into standing water and the summer temperatures create a prime breeding source for mosquitoes. “West Nile virus activity in the state is increasing, so it is important to take every possible precaution to protect against mosquito bites,” said State Public Health Officer and CDPH Director Dr. Karen Smith. (Snarr, 6/26)
The New York Times:
Democrats Diverge On Economy And Immigration In First Debate
Democratic presidential candidates leveled a stark critique of President Trump’s immigration policies and the condition of the American working class in the first primary debate on Wednesday, but split in unmistakable terms over just how aggressively the next president should seek to transform the country along more liberal lines. (Martin and Bruns, 6/26)
The Associated Press:
Health Care, Immigration Top Issues At Democrats’ 1st Debate
Health care and immigration, more than any other issues, led the debate. And Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, more than anyone else, stood out — on her own at times — in calling for “fundamental change” across the nation’s economy and government to address a widening gap between the rich and the middle class. “I think of it this way. Who is this economy really working for? It’s doing great for a thinner and thinner slice at the top,” Warren declared shortly before raising her hand as one of the only Democrats on stage willing to abolish her own private health insurance in favor of a government-run plan. “Health care is a basic human right, and I will fight for basic human rights.” (Summers and Peoples, 6/27)
The New York Times:
Who Won The First Debate? Experts On The Left And Right Weigh In
Senator Elizabeth Warren, the only person on the stage Wednesday polling in double digits, was expected to be the star of the first Democratic debate — and for the first half-hour, she was. But by the end, several lower-polling candidates had taken the spotlight: Senators Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar, and especially Julián Castro. Twitter is a bad gauge for public opinion, but a decent source for the assessments of political experts, including those who know the stakes of debates best: veteran campaign strategists and consultants from both parties. Here is a sampling of their responses. (Astor, 6/27)
The New York Times:
Which Candidates And Topics Got The Most Time During The Democratic Debate
Two candidates raised their hands when asked whether they supported abolishing private health insurance in favor of a government-run plan, often called “Medicare for all”: Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Mr. de Blasio. Other candidates expressed support for a public option, in which everyone would have the option to buy a government-run health care plan, while still giving people the option to buy private insurance, at least in the immediate future. (6/26)
Los Angeles Times:
Eight Takeaways From Night 1 Of The Democratic Debate
‘Medicare for all’ is politically messy. The candidates all like to vow their support for it, but the debate laid bare how starkly different their approaches are. Only two of the candidates onstage, Warren and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, said they want to end private insurance. They argued intensely over the merits of scrapping the entire insurance system, with the more moderate candidates warning such a move could destabilize the entire healthcare system. (Halper, 6/26)
The New York Times:
There Were 3 Women Onstage, And A Man Had A Lot To Say About His Work On Abortion
It took 30 minutes or so for Senator Elizabeth Warren to wind toward well-worn territory for her: a riff on the evils of insurance companies. “It’s not working for families,” she said, “But it’s sure as heck working for them. It’s time for us to make families come first.” It took barely a moment more for another familiar scene: a male peer cutting in as she spoke. “It should not be an option in the United States of America for any insurance company to deny women coverage for their exercise of their right of choice,” Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington interjected, pounding the air with his fist. “And I am the only candidate here who has passed a law protecting a woman’s right of reproductive health in health insurance.” (Flegenheimer, 6/26)
Los Angeles Times:
Democratic Debate: Candidates Tackle Immigration, Taxes, Climate Change And Guns
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee boasted of his executive standing, contrasting it with the many congressional lawmakers on stage, saying he had done more than any other to protect a woman's legal right to abortion — which drew a tart rejoinder from Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. "There's three women up here who have fought pretty hard for a woman's right to choose," she dryly noted, drawing cheers and applause from the studio audience. (Barabak and Mason, 6/26)
The Associated Press:
Court: Who Has Right To Defend ‘Obamacare’?
A federal appeals court on Wednesday requested written arguments on whether the House of Representatives and numerous Democratic-leaning states can step in to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that struck down President Barack Obama’s health care law. The question posed to lawyers on both sides of the “Obamacare” legal battle is significant because President Donald Trump’s administration isn’t defending the Affordable Care Act. The filing at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans also raises the question of whether there is a legitimate “live case or controversy” to be decided, and what the “appropriate conclusion” of the case should be if nobody involved can legally appeal the December ruling by Texas-based U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor striking down the law.(McGill, 6/26)
Politico:
Appellate Court Raises New Threat To Obamacare
The implications of such a decision for the future of the Affordable Care Act are difficult to parse without more information, legal experts said. But most suggested that it wouldn't bode well for supporters of Obamacare. “The odds that the Fifth Circuit does something nasty to the health-reform law have gone up,” Nicholas Bagley, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School who has followed the case closely, wrote on Twitter. (Demko, 6/26)
The Washington Post:
Appellate Court Raises Potential New Threat To ACA
If the 5th Circuit upholds the lower-court ruling — which would almost certainly put it back in front of the Supreme Court — it would create a political and logistical mess for the Trump administration and Congress. Republicans repeatedly failed to repeal and replace Obamacare while they controlled both the House and the Senate in 2017 and have little appetite to revisit health reform. “If a court decision came down quickly overturning the ACA, it would immediately catapult health care into the primary issue in the election,” said Larry Levitt, a senior vice president with the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health policy organization. “The issue is now almost 10 years old and has so many legal tentacles that it would take a long time and probably many additional lawsuits to figure out how to unwind it.” (6/26)
The Associated Press:
Border Aid Bill Faces Standoff In Congress Over Protections
Congress is at a standoff over a $4.6 billion aid package for the southern border as House Democrats say a Senate-passed measure doesn't go far enough to care for thousands of migrant families and children. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is considering a fresh vote Thursday. Democrats want to add more protections for the children — including medical and hygiene standards at facilities, and a requirement that any death of a minor be reported within 24 hours. Democratic leaders will convene early Thursday and Pelosi's spokesman says they plan to push the amended measure through the House quickly. (6/27)
The Wall Street Journal:
Lawsuit Alleges Government Mistreatment Of Migrant Children
Immigrant rights attorneys filed suit against the Trump administration, claiming that the federal government is holding children in unhealthy and unsafe conditions along the southwest border in violation of a settlement dictating the detention of minors. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, asked for an emergency injunction allowing immediate inspections by a public health expert of all Customs and Border Protection facilities in Texas’ El Paso and Rio Grande Valley sectors. The suit also sought access for medical professionals to these facilities. (Lazo and Gershman, 6/27)
The New York Times:
‘Don’t Talk To Her’: A Glimpse Inside A Troubled Border Station Housing Migrant Children
Children as young as 3 pressed their faces against the windows of one crowded cell holding nearly 20 migrant girls, some sprawled on the floor. Boys gazed through the fencing of a containment zone exposed to the 101-degree heat. Customs and Border Protection authorities on Wednesday allowed a group of journalists on a brief, highly controlled tour of the border station in Clint, a farming town near El Paso, hitting back at reports of filthy and abusive conditions for the children detained inside. Agents claimed that they were supplying soap and toothbrushes for the children, pointing to shelves with those items in a supply room. (Romero, 6/26)
The New York Times:
With Rare Comity, Senate Panel Advances Bills To Lower Health Costs
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. Still, even some Democrats who supported the legislation couched it as cold comfort as the Trump administration prepares to argue before a federal appeals court next month that the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down as unconstitutional. (Goodnough, 6/26)
The Wall Street Journal:
One State’s Effort To Publicize Hospital Prices Brings Mixed Results
As the Trump administration moves to make confidential hospital prices public, New Hampshire’s dozen years of experience with price transparency suggests what it may—and may not—accomplish. New Hampshire has one of the most comprehensive and oldest hospital price-transparency laws in the U.S. (Evans, 6/26)
The Washington Post:
HPV Vaccine Now Recommended Through Age 45 In Some Cases
A federal public health advisory panel said Wednesday that some people through age 45 could benefit from getting an HPV vaccine and should discuss the possibility with their doctors. The recommendation, which came during a two-day meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, could expand the pool of people whose insurance providers may cover the HPV vaccine. (Bever, 6/26)