Latest News On Legislation

Latest California Healthline Stories

Lawmakers Push To Protect Patients And Counter Trump

California legislators approved some significant health care proposals in their rush to meet the Friday end-of-session deadline. They tackled controversial topics, such as making abortion pills available on college campuses, and adopted measures countering Trump administration attacks on the Affordable Care Act.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Ask Us Anything!

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Joanne Kenen of Politico answer listeners’ questions about health policy and politics.

Key California Lawmaker Calls Eli Lilly’s Behavior ‘Disingenuous And Offensive’

Sen. Ed Hernandez is in a public spat with the Indianapolis drugmaker over the company’s refusal to heed a state law requiring advance notice — and justification — of large drug price hikes. The company says it is awaiting a court decision on the law’s constitutionality.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Congress And Health Care. Again.

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner talk about the new push on health legislation by Republicans in the House, as well as developments on Medicaid work requirements, drug prices and the fate of children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexican border. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists offer their favorite health stories of the week.

Should ‘Gender-Affirming Health Care’ Be On The Radar For California’s Foster Kids?

Pending state legislation would require that foster youth be informed of their legal right to seek “gender-affirming health care.” Advocates say the measure would simply give them access to doctors who can help them navigate gender identity issues, but opponents warn it would open the door to hormone and other therapies that could cause long-term health problems.

Doling Out Pain Pills Post-Surgery: An Ingrown Toenail Not The Same As A Bypass

As the opioid epidemic rages, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and researcher is leading an effort to curb overprescribing by offering procedure-specific guidelines to ensure that post-surgical patients leave the hospital with enough, but not too much, pain medication.

Longtime ‘Fighter’ Lands Top Spot In Powerful Nurses Union

Registered nurse Bonnie Castillo is the new executive director of the California Nurses Association, a raucous union that has been pushing — loudly — for the adoption of a government-run, single-payer health care system in the Golden State.