Increasing COVID-19 outbreaks among California nursing home workers
With the rapid spread of the omicron variant, data shows 10,000 California nursing home workers are infected right now, with roughly 800 new cases of COVID-19 tallied each day. The state is allowing health care workers who test positive and are asymptomatic to continue coming to work.
Biden: US to make 1 billion at-home COVID-19 tests free for Americans
President Joe Biden directed his team to double its procurement of at-home COVID-19 tests to be delivered for free to Americans, along with N95 masks.
Universal health care bill advances in California Assembly
California Democrats on Tuesday took their first step toward abolishing the private health insurance market in the nation's most populous state and replacing it with a government-run plan that they promised would never deny anyone the care they need.
COVID vaccine mandate: Supreme Court weighs rules for businesses, health care
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about the vaccine-or-testing requirement for large employers and a separate mandate for health care workers.
Bay Area residents struggle to find OTC COVID test kits and testing sites
Omicron has created a situation where finding test sites that can accommodate you, or even finding do-it-yourself tests, can be a challenge, though not an impossible one. There are hit-or-miss situations folks are facing as they seek confirmation of their COVID status.
1st person in US to get COVID-19 shot now a vaccine activist
The first person in the U.S. to get a COVID-19 vaccine, New York nurse Sandra Lindsay, has since become a prominent face in the vaccination campaign.
'Pharma Bro' company reaches $40M settlement in price-gouging case
Vyera Pharmaceuticals, once owned by “Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli, will pay $40 million to settle allegations it increased the price of a life-saving medication by 4,000%.
Biden: Prescription drugs ‘outrageously expensive’ in US, calls on Senate to act
President Joe Biden pushed his “Build Back Better” agenda, focusing on how provisions of the spending bill would lower the cost of prescription drugs for many.
US declares 'Antibiotic Awareness Week,' warns about dangers of misuse
President Biden declared “Antibiotic Awareness Week” from Nov. 18-24, aiming to raise awareness about the dangers of misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
Sutter Health gives 14 pediatric patients wrong dose of COVID vaccine
Sutter Health pediatricians are looking into what went wrong when some children at their Antioch office got double the amount of COVID vaccine that they would normally have gotten in a single shot.
San Francisco could get a safe drug consumption site as early as next spring
The City of San Francisco is pursuing a policy to allow safe consumption sites to address the problem of drug overdoses and open use on city streets.
Native American nonprofit improves Oakland community health under Waukazoo's leadership
The Native American Health Center (NAHC) in the Fruitvale District is 1,400 patients strong and employs more than 100 indigenous people, the largest employer of Native Americans in the Bay Area.
Kaiser mental health clinicians announce 1-day strike over understaffing, long patient wait times
Kaiser Permanente mental health clinicians in the Bay Area and the Central Valley will hold a one-day strike next week, union officials representing the workers said on Tuesday.
More than 2,000 Kaiser pharmacists plan to strike this month
Thousands of Kaiser Permanente pharmacists in Northern California are planning to go on strike this month. Kaiser is telling its patients to refill prescriptions before that happens.
Union intends to strike Kaiser over unfair labor practices
The United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7600 today said that the union has given Kaiser Permanente management a 10-day notice of its intent to strike over unfair labor practices beginning on Fri., Nov. 15, 2021.
ACA, Covered California open enrollment period starts as officials tout low premiums
State and federal officials launched the nationwide open-enrollment period Monday for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act for 2022.
California begins open enrollment period for 2022
Open enrollment for the nation’s largest state-run health insurance marketplace began Monday and runs through the end of January.
OSHA warns Arizona, South Carolina and Utah over COVID-19 violations
OSHA says Arizona, South Carolina and Utah are not complying with promises to enforce COVID-19 labor standards that are at least as good as those adopted by the federal government.
Fire at San Lorenzo assisted living facility displaces 8
A fire at a San Lorenzo assisted living facility displaced eight people early Sunday morning, fire officials said.
Health insurance still available for Californians who lost COBRA benefits
As many as 16 million Americans lost their employer-sponsored COBRA health insurance benefits Thursday after a government stimulus bill expired.