Daily Edition for Wednesday, January 22, 2025
LA County Wants Database Of People With Disabilities In Order To Help Them During A Fire: Top L.A. County officials say they want to build a database of residents with disabilities who require help fleeing a neighborhood engulfed in flames. In Altadena, at least eight of the 27 fire victims to date were at least 80, and some had disabilities that hampered their efforts to evacuate. Read more from the Los Angeles Times. Keep scrolling for more wildfire news.
Long-Covid Patients Are Frustrated That Federal Research Hasn’t Found New Treatments
By Sarah Boden
The federal government has allocated $1.15 billion to long-covid research without any new treatments yet brought to market. Patients and scientists say it’s time to push harder for breakthroughs.
The Growing Inequality in Life Expectancy Among Americans
By Amy Maxmen
To deliver on pledges from the new Trump administration to make America healthy again, policymakers will need to close gaps in longevity among racial and ethnic groups.
Covered California Hits Record Enrollment, but Key Subsidies in Jeopardy
By Claudia Boyd-Barrett
Enhanced federal subsidies and more state aid for out-of-pocket costs have made health insurance purchased through California’s marketplace more affordable. It’s unclear if the incoming Republican Congress will extend the enhanced subsidies beyond 2025.
Covered California alcanza récord de inscripciones, pero peligran subsidios clave
By Claudia Boyd-Barrett
La principal preocupación de los funcionarios de Covered California es la inminente expiración de los subsidios federales adicionales para pagar las primas de los seguros.
La creciente desigualdad en la expectativa de vida entre los estadounidenses
By Amy Maxmen
La salud de los estadounidenses ha sido desigual durante mucho tiempo, pero un nuevo estudio muestra que la disparidad entre las expectativas de vida de diferentes grupos poblacionales casi se ha duplicado desde el año 2000.
Daily Edition for Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Trump Decree Says There Are No Transgender People, Only Women And Men: President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday asserting that the U.S. government recognizes only two sexes that are “not changeable.” Read more from the Los Angeles Times and Advocate. He also cleared the way to ban transgender people from the military. Read more from The 19th.
Amid Wildfire Trauma, L.A. County Dispatches Mental Health Workers to Evacuees
By Molly Castle Work
Catastrophic wildfires are common in California, and mental health specialists have become a key part of local governments’ response to extreme weather events, which scientists say are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change. Los Angeles County has been modifying its approach with each disaster.
Dogs Paired With Providers at Hospitals Help Ease Staff and Patient Stress
By John Daley, Colorado Public Radio
Some hospitals are bringing in dogs to spend entire shifts with doctors and nurses. The trained canines help staffers cope with the stress of their work amid high levels of burnout.
Days From Trump Inauguration, Journalists Weigh California, Federal Health Policies
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on regional media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.