Latest California Healthline Stories
Boom in Proton Therapy Is A Bust For Some. Blame A Shortage of Patients.
Hospitals and private investors have pumped vast sums of money into an advanced type of radiology that mostly spares healthy tissue while attacking tumors. The spending hasn’t always paid off — leading some facilities to close or, as in the case of a San Diego center last year, file for bankruptcy.
Family Caregivers Finally Get A Break — And Extra Coaching
Across the country, community groups, hospitals and government agencies are stepping in to support the estimated 42 million family caregivers. In California, that includes providing training and sometimes a dose of fun and relaxation.
How A Drug Company Under Pressure For High Prices Ratchets Up Political Activity
Denmark-based drugmaker Novo Nordisk has invested more in lobbying and doubled political donations since 2015.
Tax-Funded Mental Health Programs Not Always Easy To Find
Revenue from California’s Mental Health Services Act has funded billions of dollars in mental health programs across the state, but finding out what’s available — and to whom — could be a challenge for consumers.
Dissecting The Rhetoric Vs. Reality Of Trump’s Tough Talk On Drug Prices
President Donald Trump’s upcoming speech on drug prices comes after months of public comments and debate about tackling the issue.
Male OB-GYNs Are Growing Rare. Is That A Problem?
Nationally, women outnumber men as specialists in obstetrics and gynecology — yet women remain underrepresented in leadership roles. Many OB-GYN patients say they prefer female doctors, as residency programs strive for diversity in race, ethnicity and even gender.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ What’s Next For The VA?
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the collapse of the nomination of White House physician Ronny Jackson to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. They also discuss new bipartisan congressional efforts to address the opioid epidemic. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists offer their favorite health policy stories of the week.
‘A Persistent Puzzle’: Californians Embrace Medicaid — But Food Stamps? Not So Much.
The Golden State ranks near the bottom in its enrollment of eligible people in the food assistance program known as SNAP. Now state officials want to tap its robust Medicaid rolls to boost SNAP signups.
‘Rapid Autopsy’ Programs Seek Clues To Cancer Within Hours Of Death
More than a dozen centers nationwide now ask terminal patients to allow speedy study of the diseases that kill them.
Hospitals Lure Diabetes Patients With Self-Care Courses, But Costs Weigh Heavily
Self-management classes can help the tens of millions of Americans now diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. But the education can come with a high price tag.