Mark Kreidler

This Bill Aims To Help Firefighters With Cancer. Getting It Passed Is Just the Beginning.

Amid the Los Angeles wildfires, California’s U.S. senators co-sponsored legislation that would provide support to first responders who develop or die from service-related cancers. But those involved with similar efforts say the road to implementation is rough and paved with long waits, restrictive eligibility requirements, and funding issues.

California Forges Ahead With Social Media Rules Despite Legal Barriers

State lawmakers are advancing two bills aimed at protecting children from the harms of social media, part of a nationwide wave of efforts to address the issue. Yet the bills’ proponents face hurdles in finding an approach that can survive legal challenges from the tech industry.

Back Pain? Bum Knee? Be Prepared to Wait for a Physical Therapist

Physical therapists left the field en masse during the covid-19 pandemic, even as demand from aging baby boomers skyrocketed. While universities try to boost their training programs to increase the number of graduates, patients seeking relief from often debilitating pain are left to wait.

California Requires Hospitals to Turn to a Patient’s Next of Kin, Closing a Longtime Loophole

A state law establishes a list of representatives who can make medical decisions for patients unable to convey their wishes. California is late to making the change; 45 other states and the District of Columbia already have next-of-kin laws.

NFL Has Been Slow to Embrace Mental Health Support for Players

The shocking on-field cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin traumatized some players and underscores the need for more consistent mental health support in a league whose athletes are trained to show no weakness.

The Case of the Two Grace Elliotts: A Medical Billing Mystery

A health system charged a woman for a shoulder replacement at a hospital across the country that she had not visited for years. She didn’t receive the care, but she did receive the bill — and the medical records of a stranger.