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San Benito County Health Digest



Happy New Year, California Workers! You Now Get More Paid Sick Days

12/26/2023

Under a new law, employees in California are guaranteed five paid sick days a year, two days more than previously. Worker advocacy groups say the benefit is needed, but business groups warn of additional costs.

California Boosting Minimum Wage for Fast Food and Health Care Workers. Who’s Next For a Raise?

12/20/2023

California fast-food workers will earn a $20 minimum wage in April. Other employers might have to raise their pay floor to recruit and retain staff.

California Takes Big Step Toward New Source of Drinking Water—Sewage

12/19/2023

Suppliers now have detailed steps to create a new source of drinking water. But it’s not really “toilet-to-tap.” Due to the cost, it’ll likely be only large suppliers.

Tired of Wait Lists at California’s Public Universities, Nursing Students Flock to Pricey Private Programs

12/17/2023

The number of nursing students enrolling in high-priced private programs has nearly doubled over the past 10 years as the state’s public universities have stagnated in growth. Private universities charge up to seven times the tuition of public schools for a bachelor’s degree, but nurses say their starting salaries are worth the cost.

Newsom Blasts Counties for Dragging Feet Over New Mental Health Law

12/15/2023

All but two California counties are delaying their implementation of a new law that makes it easier for a court to place someone in involuntary confinement if they can’t care for their own medical needs or personal safety.

State Board Approves New Regulation to Protect Counter Installers

12/14/2023

The California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board is strengthening protections for stone cutters who have been breathing dangerous silica dust. At least 10 stone cutters have died in the past five years from silicosis.

SF Hits New Record for Overdose Deaths

12/14/2023

The fentanyl epidemic has pushed San Francisco to a grim milestone: a new record for overdoses. A total 752 people overdosed in the first 11 months of this year, surpassing 2020’s record number of 726.

California Is on Pace to Have Fewest Annual Deaths in Four Years

12/13/2023

For the first year since COVID-19 upended our lives, the number of deaths from all causes is expected to fall under 300,000 in the Golden State.

California Company Used Child Labor for Dangerous Poultry Processing Work

12/13/2023

The Exclusive Poultry Inc. agreed to pay $3.8 million in wages, damages and penalties in part for hiring children for dangerous work. The case is one of hundreds federal labor officials investigated last year.

Reviewing How Hazel Hawkins Landed in Bankruptcy Court

12/12/2023

The hearing began Dec. 4, spurred by opposition to the Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital bankruptcy filing from the California Nurses Association and National Union of Healthcare Workers. Judge Stephen L. Johnson will determine the hospital’s eligibility to receive bankruptcy protection.

SF Nonprofit Advocates for More Realistic TV Deaths

12/11/2023

Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, founder of End Well, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, would like to diversify how death is portrayed on television. This would include more focus on less dramatic and violent deaths.

At-Home COVID Tests Can Be Reimbursable in California

12/07/2023

Although the federal government is providing four free COVID tests per month, that’s not the only way to get them. Aetna and Blue Shield of California members can be reimbursed for up to eight at-home tests per month, while Kaiser Permanente is offering discounts on tests.

Stolen Blue Shield of California Data Could Hit Dark Web

12/01/2023

Hackers stole data this week from Blue Shield of California. Historically, this type of data has sometimes wound up for sale on what’s known as the dark web, the part of the internet not typically included in search engine results.

San Diego County Might Wait on Implementing Conservatorship Rules

11/30/2023

A member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has asked that the county wait until 2025 to implement pending state policy around conservatorships. The policy, which goes into effect Jan. 1, makes people suffering from severe addiction eligible to receive conservatorships.

Sewage Spill Closes Southern California Beach

11/29/2023

Two miles of public beach were closed in Laguna Beach following a spill of 94,500 gallons of sewage. Orange County is testing water to determine when the beach will be safe to reopen.

Will Kids Still Take Their Medicine? New State Law Forces Pharmacies to Take Out the Flavor

11/28/2023

Parents say flavored medication can help ensure their kids finish a prescription. Far fewer California pharmacies are offering that service as they await new rules from a state regulator.

More Migrants Getting Hurt Climbing Border Wall in California

11/27/2023

Seven times as many patients have been admitted to the trauma unit at UC San Diego Health since the Trump administration raised the height of the border wall to 30 feet in California. The hospital also notes that 23 people have died in falls from the wall since 2019.

Data Explores Whether California or Florida Handled COVID Better

11/27/2023

California and Florida took starkly different approaches to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Data shows that more Floridians died per capita of COVID than did Californians.

UC Davis Study Posits Why People Get Headaches From Wine

11/21/2023

A UC Davis study suggests that some people might get headaches from drinking wine due to an antioxidant, quercetin, that affects alcohol metabolism. This antioxidant is healthy on its own but can sometimes spur headaches when mixed with alcohol.

Hazel Hawkins Foundation Honors Donors of the Year

11/21/2023

The Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital Foundation held their Donor Recognition event, honoring Bonnie and Alan Clark as their Donors of the Year, Community Foundation for San Benito County for Organization Donor of the Year and Dr. M. Aslam Barra as their “Heart for Hazel” honoree.

State Debuting Mental Health App for Young People Next Year

11/15/2023

The state will offer a free mental health app beginning Jan. 1 for people ages 13-25. It is currently being tested in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

New Law Raising Wage for California Health Workers May Cost State Billions

11/12/2023

More than half a million California health care workers are expected to see a pay increase in January thanks to a law raising the minimum wage for their industry. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law without a clear estimate about how much it would cost the state.

People Can Wait Over an Hour in California for Emergency Care

11/09/2023

People wait about 40 minutes on average in California for emergency care, compared to 25 minutes nationally. In Sacramento County, wait times can be as long as 84 minutes during the holidays.

Nearly One-Third of California Prisons Provide Inadequate Medical Care

11/07/2023

An evaluation of 34 adult prisons in California by the Office of the Inspector General found that 11 provided inadequate medical care and 23 provided adequate care. None were deemed proficient, the top designation.

Salinas Valley Health Explores JPA, Possibly Operating Hollister Hospital

11/06/2023

Salinas Valley Health and the County of San Benito are proposing a potential collaboration with the San Benito Health Care District to form a joint powers authority to manage Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister, and for the JPA to enter into an agreement with Salinas Valley Health to operate the hospital, the health care district's rural clinics, and other services developed by the JPA.

Newsom Taking New Approach to California’s 10,000 Homeless Veterans

11/05/2023

California’s population of homeless veterans has plateaued despite billions of dollars in state spending to create housing for former service members. Now, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to shift resources to focus on veterans with serious mental health conditions.

New UC Davis Research Explores Why Males and Females Respond Differently to Social Stress

11/02/2023

Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but among boys and girls, the likelihood is the same.

A Story With Teeth: Why California Kids Lag in Dental Health

10/31/2023

California kids have some of the lowest-ranked dental health in the United States, with challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. Here’s a look at the problem and what’s being done to address it.

Effects of COVID Isolation Surfacing for California’s Young Professionals

10/25/2023

After years of isolation and virtual classes, young professionals in California’s workforce are reportedly struggling with greater mental health challenges and burnout. If colleges and companies don’t pay more attention, there could be economic consequences.

Californians of Color Less Likely to Get Early Dementia Diagnoses

10/24/2023

Early detection of dementia can help a person live independently for longer. In California, though, people of color are diagnosed disproportionately later for dementia.

County Looking into Partnerships to Manage Hospital

10/23/2023

San Benito County presented to the Hollister and San Juan Bautista city councils a final report and proposal to form a JPA, along with Hazel Hawkins Hospital’s current governing body, San Benito Health Care District.

Despite Newsom Veto, State Takes Steps to Ban Artificial Turf Due to ‘Forever Chemicals’

10/17/2023

California cities can ban synthetic turf under a law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed. He rejected a bill to ban PFAS in fake lawns.

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