Los Angeles Times: California's 2012 Budget Crisis Sparked Prop. 52, A Measure To Generate Money For Medi-Cal 
Californians wading through the long list of statewide ballot measures on Nov. 8 may wonder why they are being asked to weigh in on Proposition 52, a wonky measure to generate money for Medi-Cal, the state’s subsidized healthcare program for the poor. The answer dates back to a state budget crisis in 2012. “What really triggered it for us was going through that economic downturn,” said Anne McLeod, a senior vice president at the California Hospital Assn. “When the people needed the program the most, that’s when the state dipped in and took more. That’s when we knew we had to stop that.” (Bollag, 10/5)

Los Angeles Times: Bernie Sanders Stars In Latest Ad Supporting Drug Pricing Ballot Measure 
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders hit California airwaves again this week, this time to promote Proposition 61, the November ballot initiative aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for state agencies. In the 30-second ad, Sanders decries drug companies' "outrageous profits" and calls the measure a "very, very important step forward." "It will be a real blow against this greedy industry that will reverberate all over America," Sanders says. (Mai-Duc, 10/4)

Los Angeles Times: Parents Group Rallies Against Proposition 64, Which Would Legalize Recreational Use Of Marijuana 
Parents who said their sons and daughters had mental health problems or committed suicide after using marijuana rallied Tuesday at the state Capitol against Proposition 64, which would legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Speakers included Lori Robinson, whose son, Shane, committed suicide at age 25 after bouts of psychosis she said occurred when he smoked marijuana. (McGreevy, 10/4)

The Associated Press: After Riff, Bill Clinton Reaffirms Health-Care Law Support
Bill Clinton tried to avoid muddling his message again as he campaigned for his wife in battleground Ohio a day after he described President Barack Obama's health care law and the resulting insurance markets as "the craziest thing in the world." This time, Bill Clinton only briefly mentioned health care in multiple appearances Tuesday in eastern Ohio, clearly stating his support for the law and arguing that more still must be done to expand access to insurance. (10/4)

Politico: Bill Clinton's Obamacare Remarks Put Hillary On The Hot Seat
Former President Bill Clinton put his wife in a tough political spot by re-injecting Obamacare into a policy-free presidential race — with just 35 days until Election Day and the media intensely focused on Donald Trump’s tax returns. (Cook and Ehley, 10/4)

In other 2016 election news —

The Washington Post: How Do Pence And Kaine Agree On Abortion?
The question came at the very end of the debate: How have you grappled with your faith and public life? Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, spoke about being opposed to the death penalty but allowing it to go forward in his state. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, his Republican rival, discussed his opposition to abortion — which has been one of the defining issues of his political career. (Zezima, 10/4)

Los Angeles Times: Donald Trump's PTSD Comments Are 'Ignorant' And 'Harmful,' Hillary Clinton Says
Hillary Clinton sharply criticized Donald Trump for his comments on military veterans and post-tramautic stress, which have drawn criticism for his suggestion that "strong" veterans don't have to worry about the disorder." Donald Trump's comments are not just ignorant, they're harmful," she said, raising concerns that such remarks increase the stigma surrounding mental health. (Megerian, 10/4)

Orange County Register: Anaheim Dental Clinic Infection Outbreak Climbs To 29 
Dental infection cases rose to 29 patients who underwent baby tooth root canals at the Children’s Dental Group clinic in Anaheim, the county Health Care Agency said Tuesday. Spokeswoman Rachel Selleck said among the children there are 10 lab-confirmed mycobacterial infections and 19 probable. All of the children, who range in age from 3 to 9, have been hospitalized at some point. The dates the patients underwent the root canals, or pulpotomy procedures, remains April 6 to July 28, she said. (Perkes, 10/4)

San Francisco Chronicle: SF Police Officers To Team With Mental Health Workers In Crisis 
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee on Tuesday announced a new plan to use licensed mental health professionals to help police officers resolve conflicts with suspects without resorting to excessive force. A partnership between the San Francisco Police Department and the city Department of Public Health will not only provide officers with extensive training in de-escalation techniques, but will dispatch crisis-intervention specialists to the scenes of police standoffs. (Ravani, 10/4)

In other mental health services news —

KPBS: Librarians Learn Mental Health First Aid In San Diego 
Librarians from across the state met in San Diego late last month to learn how to spot warning signs of mental illness. The training, part of a $1 million mental health initiative from the California State Library, certified about 30 librarians as trainers, who will conduct training sessions of their own for local librarians. (Lipkin, 10/4)

KQED: Researchers Hunt For A Link Between Microbiome And Autism 
In 2007, Becker was the first researcher to suggest that the microbiome might be connected to symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. In the decade since, researchers have accumulated more evidence that the gastrointestinal tracts of children with ASD are often different. Depending on the survey, 60 to 90 percent have irritable bowel syndrome or have complained of diarrhea, stomachaches or gluten intolerance, which inflames the gut. (Venton, 10/4)

In other public health news —

California Healthline: Can We Conquer All Diseases By The End Of The Century?
The goal is lofty and expansive: to cure, prevent or manage all known diseases by the end of the century. Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, announced last month that they planned to invest $3 billion over 10 years to begin tackling everything from Alzheimer’s disease to the Zika virus. ... To learn more about Chan Zuckerberg Science, we talked to Cori Bargmann, a neurobiologist and professor at The Rockefeller University, who was named president of the organization. (Gorman, 10/5)

The Associated Press: Millions Leaving Government Insurance Money On The Table?
Millions of Americans who bought individual health insurance outside the Affordable Care Act's public exchanges may be leaving money on the table if they skip those marketplaces again in picking 2017 coverage, a new report says. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 2.5 million people who bought so-called off-exchange coverage for this year might have income levels that qualify them for tax credits to help pay the premium. (Murphy, 10/4)

In other national health care news —

The Wall Street Journal: Antitobacco Groups Sue FDA To Require Graphic Warning Labels On Cigarette Packs
Antitobacco groups on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to push the agency to try again to require graphic warning labels on cigarettes. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, urges the court to force the FDA to abide by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Under the law, the agency was required to issue rules by late 2011 for color graphics on cigarettes that depict the harms of smoking. (Mickle, 10/4)

Morning Consult: CBO: Bill Blocking Medicare Drug Payment Reform Demo Would Prevent $1.1 Billion In Savings
A bill that would block the Obama administration from implementing a proposal meant to test how Medicare reimburses for some prescription drugs would prevent $1.1 billion in savings over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office projects. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposal would test a new way for Medicare Part B to reimburse providers for drugs covered under that program. (McIntire, 10/4)

Stat: Ben Stiller Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Says PSA Test Saved His Life
Ben Stiller has been treated for prostate cancer, he revealed on “The Howard Stern Show” Tuesday, after his doctors diagnosed him in June 2014. He is now cancer-free, and he credits his health to a controversial screening test that has divided experts because of its potential for overtreating slow-growing tumors. “Taking the PSA test saved my life,” Stiller wrote in a blog post on Medium Tuesday. The PSA test detects an enzyme, prostate specific antigen, that is released by prostate cells. Elevated levels of PSA could indicate cancer. (Love, 10/4)