Proposed Massachusetts bill would reduce inmate sentences if they donate organs

If passed, eligible individuals who are behind bars in Massachusetts could receive 60 days to one year off of their sentences in exchange for donating organs or bone marrow.

California prison inmates to get some Medicaid care

The federal government will allow Medicaid dollars to treat some people in prisons, jails or juvenile detention centers for the first time ever, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday.

Dueling abortion rights protests held in San Francisco

Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco was taken over by thousands of anti-abortion protesters on Saturday afternoon for this year's March for Life. It marked the first time the annual event has been held since the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June.

US home births in 2021 rose to highest level in decades, CDC report says

Among almost 4 million U.S. births in 2021, nearly 52,000 occurred at home — an increase of about 12% from the previous year, the CDC said.

Stanford pediatrician handling spike in RSV cases

The respiratory virus RSV is keeping doctors busy and beds full at Bay Area children’s hospitals.

Replacement effort for sleep apnea device recall expected to drag into 2023, fueling frustration

Philips initially estimated it could repair or replace the units within a year. But with the recall expanding to more than 5 million devices, it now says the effort will stretch into next year.

Alta Bates hospital nurses start 5-day strike in Oakland and Berkeley

Hundreds of nurses in Oakland and Berkeley were set to strike Monday morning because of what they call unsafe working conditions and high turnover rates. The strike will affect three of Sutter Health’s medical center campuses. 

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine will cost $110-$130 per dose

Pfizer said the commercial pricing for adult COVID-19 vaccine doses could start in early 2023, depending on when the U.S. government phases out its program of buying the shots.

Cheaper, over-the-counter hearing aids now available in US stores

Several U.S. retailers are now selling over-the-counter hearing aids at a cheaper cost compared to prescription devices, officials say. Here’s where to buy them.

Congenital Syphilis is rising at an alarming rate in California

Syphilis cases have continued to rise over the last seven years and officials say informing people about the spread is crucial to protecting women and their babies.

FDA OKs Daxxify, an anti-wrinkle injection and Botox competitor

Studies showed the Daxxify drug can temporarily improve moderate to severe frown lines in adults for a median duration of about six months, according to the company.

Mental health workers "strike" Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest non-profit HMO, is seeing mass picketing at four northern and central California locations. The biggest worry right now is how long will the labor action last?

US declares monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency

The U.S. has declared a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the outbreak of monkeypox that already has infected more than 6,600 Americans.