Blockbuster Deal Will Wipe Out $30 Billion in Medical Debt. Even Backers Say It鈥檚 Not Enough.
Undue Medical Debt is retiring unpaid medical bills for 20 million people. The debt trading company that owned them is leaving the market.
California Bureau
Visit for an archive of reporting prior to October 2025.
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Immigration Crackdowns Disrupt the Caregiving Industry. Families Pay the Price.
Families, nursing facilities, and home health agencies rely on foreign-born workers to fill health care jobs that are demanding and do not attract enough American citizens. The Trump administration鈥檚 anti-immigration policies threaten to cut a key source of labor for the industry, which was already predicting a surge in demand.
By Vanessa G. S谩nchez and Daniel Chang -
鈥業f They Cut Too Much, People Will Die鈥: Health Coalition Pushes GOP on Medicaid Funding
As House Republicans mull a massive $880 billion cut from federal programs likely including Medicaid, constituents, disability advocates, and health care providers are joining forces to lobby GOP members in California 鈥 including those who represent rural, deeply conservative pockets that stand to lose the most.
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Treatment Tops Housing in Trump Homeless Policy
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By Angela Hart -
With Few Dentists and Fluoride Under Siege, Rural America Risks New Surge of Tooth Decay
The anti-fluoride movement has more momentum than ever. In rural counties with few dentists, tooth decay could surge to levels that have not been seen in decades, experts warn.
By Brett Kelman -
Trump Turns Homelessness Response Away From Housing, Toward Forced Treatment
The Trump administration is moving to end the 鈥淗ousing First鈥 approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won鈥檛 work. But with homelessness rising, President Donald Trump could find allies in blue cities and states as the public clamors for streets to be cleaned up.
By Angela Hart -
Journalists Demystify Bird Flu, Medicaid Work Requirements, and Reproductive Health Research
吃瓜不打烊 journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here鈥檚 a collection of their appearances.
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US Judge Names Receiver To Take Over California Prisons鈥 Mental Health Program
A federal judge has named a receiver to run California鈥檚 troubled prison mental health system. Colette Peters, a reformist with a rocky tenure as director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, will have four months to develop a plan to adequately care for tens of thousands of prisoners.
By Don Thompson -
Amid Plummeting Diversity at Medical Schools, a Warning of DEI Crackdown鈥檚 鈥楥hilling Effect鈥
Enrollment of underrepresented groups at medical schools fell precipitously this academic year after the Supreme Court鈥檚 2023 ban on affirmative action. Education and health experts worry the Trump administration鈥檚 anti-DEI measures will only worsen the situation, even in states like California that have navigated bans on race-conscious admissions for years.
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Her Case Changed Trans Care in Prison. Now Trump Aims To Reverse Course.
President Donald Trump ordered a halt to gender-affirming medical care for transgender prisoners in federal custody, and to housing trans women in female prisons. The new policies raise alarms for a formerly incarcerated trans woman. She said the order denies lifesaving medical care and creates a road map for rape.
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吃瓜不打烊 & PolitiFact HealthCheck
Congressman Blames Trump Team for Ending Telehealth Medicare Benefit. Not Quite Right.
Rep. Ro Khanna of California warned of Trump administration 鈥渃uts鈥 to Medicare telehealth access hitting March 31. But if Medicare recipients lose telemedicine benefits that day, it will be because Congress failed to act.
By Suz Redfearn -
Progressives Seek Health Privacy Protections in California, But Newsom Could Balk
Democratic state lawmakers in California have proposed bills to protect women, transgender people, and immigrants in response to concerns that their health data could be used against them. If the measures reach his desk, Gov. Gavin Newsom could lay such legislation aside to focus on securing federal funds.
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California Borrows $3.4 Billion for Medicaid Overrun as Congress Eyes Steep Cuts
Medi-Cal, California鈥檚 Medicaid program, borrowed $3.4 billion from the state 鈥 and will likely need even more 鈥 due to higher prescription costs and increased eligibility for seniors and immigrants. The top Republican in the state Senate is demanding a hearing 鈥渟o the public knows exactly where their tax dollars are going.鈥
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Hospital Gun-Violence Prevention Programs May Be Caught in US Funding Crossfire
Hospital-based violence intervention programs have operated in the U.S. since the mid-1990s. The public health approach to gun violence works, by many accounts. But recent moves by the White House are raising anxiety about the programs鈥 future.
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Thought Inflation Was Bad? Health Insurance Premiums Are Rising Even Faster
California businesses saw employees鈥 monthly family insurance premiums rise nearly $1,000 over a 15-year period, more than double the pace of inflation. And employees鈥 share grew as companies shifted more of the cost to workers.
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She Co-Founded the Office That Became DOGE. Now, She Sees 鈥業rresponsible Transformation.鈥
As a deputy chief technology officer in the Obama administration, Jennifer Pahlka brought Silicon Valley talent to Washington to streamline public access to government services. She believes better government technology could both ensure taxpayer dollars aren鈥檛 wasted and that people who need health care and food assistance receive it.
By Sarah Kwon -
To Patients, Parents, and Caregivers, Proposed Medicaid Cuts Are a Personal Affront
At a town hall in Orange County, California, angry residents said Congress should keep its hands off Medicaid. The cuts contemplated in a House budget blueprint would bore a giant hole in California鈥檚 version of the safety net health insurance program, Medi-Cal, which covers nearly 15 million residents.
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Years Later, Centene Settlements With States Still Unfinished
At least 20 states have settled disputes with health insurance giant Centene since 2021 over allegations that its pharmacy benefit manager operation overcharged their Medicaid programs. Two holdouts appear to remain: Georgia has not yet settled, and Florida officials won鈥檛 answer questions about its Centene situation.
By Andy Miller -
CDC Firings Undermine Public Health Work Far Beyond Washington
The Trump administration鈥檚 sudden firings have gutted training programs across the nation that bolstered state and local public health departments.
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Law and Order or Bystander Safety? Police Chases Spotlight California鈥檚 Competing Priorities
California鈥檚 governor is pressuring Oakland to allow more police pursuits as part of a crackdown on crime. But more pursuits mean a greater risk to public health, with more potential injuries and deaths among bystanders. Policies in cities including New York and San Francisco reflect divergent local priorities.
By Don Thompson