Category: Public Health

Vaccine Drama On Display In California’s Capitol

Hundreds of protesters descended on the state Capitol on Thursday, warning against government tyranny and corporate greed. Their target: not taxes, not high-tech surveillance, but a bill that would determine which kids must get their routine shots.

Legal Weed’s A Growing Danger To Dogs, So Keep Your Canine Out Of Your Cannabis

As more states legalize recreational and medical marijuana, dogs are accidentally ingesting the drug and becoming highly intoxicated.

Stem Cell Company Persuades Employers To Steer Workers Toward Controversial Therapy

Regenexx, which runs a string of clinics, says stem cell injections can save employers a lot of money, but critics say there’s no proof.

California Vaccine Bill Amended To Appease Governor

In the wake of concerns from Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Medical Board of California, a state senator on Tuesday unveiled significant amendments to his bill to tighten vaccine requirements. A hearing on the measure is likely to draw hundreds of people to the state Capitol on Thursday.

A Proposal To Make It Harder For Kids To Skip Vaccines Gives Powerful Voices Pause

California lawmakers are debating whether to tighten the rules on childhood vaccinations and give the ultimate say to state public health officials. But questions are emerging from unexpected quarters: the state medical board and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

KHN’s ‘What The Health’: Who Will Pay To Fix Problem Of Surprise Medical Bills?

Lawmakers and patients want to eliminate “surprise” out-of-network medical bills. Hospitals, doctors and insurers say they want to eliminate them, too, but their opposition to one another’s proposals could complicate legislative efforts. Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this, plus the latest in news about reproductive health and health care sharing ministries.

Why So Many Older Americans Rate Their Health As Good Or Even Excellent

As people advance in age, the expectations for what constitutes good health change. People focus on positive emotions and satisfaction with life, while physical ailments play a less important role.

Drug Users Armed With Naloxone Double As Medics On Streets Of San Francisco

The widespread availability of naloxone, which reverses overdoses, has radically changed the culture of opioid use on the streets, giving drug users a sense of security and inducing them to seek out the more powerful high of the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Never Say ‘Die’: Why So Many Doctors Won’t Break Bad News

It’s never easy to tell a patient about a terminal illness, but a longtime doctor whose own diagnosis was botched says physicians must do better.

Trump Administration Rule Would Undo Health Care Protections For LGBTQ Patients

Supporters of the rule say it would strengthen health care professionals’ freedom of conscience, but opponents say it “empowers bad actors to be bad actors.”