Latest News On Homeless

Latest California Healthline Stories

Finding Homeless Patients A Place To Heal

California hospitals must comply with a new state law that requires them to try to find a safe place for homeless patients upon discharge. But hospitals say doing so isn’t as easy as calling a shelter and securing a cot.

California Hospitals See Massive Surge In Homeless Patients

Homeless patients accounted for about 100,000 visits to California hospitals in 2017, marking a 28% increase from just two years earlier. Health officials attribute the surge to the overall rise in California’s homeless numbers and the large proportion of people living on the streets with mental illness.

‘Medieval’ Diseases Flare As Unsanitary Living Conditions Proliferate

Outbreaks of infectious diseases such as typhus and hepatitis A are resurging in California and around the country, particularly among homeless populations. Public health officials warn that such diseases could spread broadly.

California’s Newly Minted Health Care Laws: Doctor Misconduct, Drug Prices, Kids’ Meals And More

Gov. Jerry Brown approved numerous new health care laws addressing a broad range of issues, but he vetoed several bills, including one that would have allowed parents to administer medical marijuana to their children in school and another that would have made the abortion pill available at the student health centers of California’s public universities.

Money For Housing Californians With Mental Illness Heads To Ballot Box

About $2 billion in funding approved by the legislature to provide housing for homeless people with mental illness has been stalled by a legal challenge. In an attempt to bypass the lawsuit, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators have agreed to bring the issue to voters in November.

As Medicaid Costs Soar, States Try A New Approach

New programs, known as ACOs, reward hospitals and physician groups that hold down costs by keeping enrollees healthy. The health care providers are asked to address social issues — such as homelessness, lack of transportation and poor nutrition — that can cause and exacerbate health problems.

Hospitals Step In To Help House The Homeless. Will It Make A Difference?

They say it will help reduce unnecessary ER visits and ensure better follow-up care. It’s also good P.R., and helps them meet their obligations to provide benefits to the community in exchange for significant tax breaks.