California Confronts Public Health Crises
California Healthline
News on health care policy, politics and business in California, by KFF Health News for CHCF.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature ballot measure to address mental illness, addiction, and homelessness with a $6.4 billion bond and other reforms is barely ahead in the ongoing ballot count. The slim margin reflects a growing unease among Californians over the governor’s homelessness initiatives.
Check out also our previous coverage of Proposition 1 focusing on the front-line workers implementing Newsom’s homelessness initiatives. Many of them similarly expressed concern that the measure would pour more money into a broken homelessness response system that is largely failing to house those in need.
In April, the U.S. Supreme Court will delve into an issue central to the plight of those living in homeless encampments: whether they?can be fined?or slapped with criminal charges for living or sleeping outdoors when there’s no shelter or housing available.
California could give President Biden a political win this year on gun violence. State senators passed sweeping legislation in January that would toughen gun storage requirements, embracing a White House priority that has languished in Congress. Many states, including California, have laws in place requiring gun owners to securely store their firearms when children are present.?????
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California has supported expanded use of medications in the fight against opioid use disorder and overdose deaths. But hospitals and addiction treatment advocates say the state needs to secure ongoing funding if it wants more behavioral health workers to guide patients into long-term treatment.
A new California law allows trained physician assistants, also called physician associates, to perform first-trimester abortions without the presence of a supervising doctor. The legislation is part of a broader effort by the state to expand access to abortion care, especially in rural areas. Some doctor groups are wary.
State laws requiring doctor training on how bias affects treatment violate teachers’ right to free speech, opponents say.
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