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Yolo County Health Digest



A Medi-Cal ‘Gap’ Hurts Tens of Thousands of Low-Income Seniors. Will California Finally Fix It?

01/09/2025

The Newsom administration on Friday is expected to release its next budget proposal. Health care advocates want the governor to fix a Medi-Cal rule that discourages seniors from getting coverage.

Protect Your Cats from Bird Flu

12/26/2024

Following news of the death of pet cats from eating bird flu infected raw food or raw milk, CapRadio has information about how to protect your feline friends.

Most Medical Debt Can No Longer Hurt Your Credit Score Under New California Law

12/25/2024

A new state law will keep medical debt off your credit report, sparing a hit to your all-important credit score. This is a big deal for California where millions struggle with unpaid medical bills. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.

How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic

12/19/2024

Keith Poulsen's jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October. A livestock veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin, Poulsen had seen sick cows before, with their noses dripping and udders slack.

CA Nurses Demand Changes to Addiction Recovery Program

12/19/2024

For California nurses seeking help with alcohol or drug abuse, the road to recovery through a program managed by their licensing board can be fraught, writes CalMatters health reporter Kristen Hwang.

A California Recovery Program Keeps Watch on Addicted Health Workers — But Not Doctors

12/18/2024

California doctors are asking the state to create a ‘safe harbor’ program for addiction recovery. They say the current system discourages doctors from participating because they regard it as punitive.

California Declares Bird Flu Emergency

12/18/2024

As the first serious case of bird flu in a human is reported and more dairy herds across the state are infected, California Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency. Read on to learn what that entails.

Federal Health Care Dollars Are Helping to House Homeless Californians. Trump Could Stop That

12/11/2024

Gov. Newsom launched an ambitious program that uses Medi-Cal to help Californians access housing, healthy food and more. Now, its fate is in the hands of President-Elect Trump.

Polluted Communities Hold Their Breath as Companies Struggle With California’s Diesel Truck Ban

12/09/2024

California has an aggressive mandate for zero-emission trucks, which are powered by electricity or hydrogen. But trucking companies face big obstacles — and people are still breathing dangerous diesel exhaust.

What's Behind All Those Food Recalls?

12/09/2024

Are food recalls on the rise? Yes. Read on to learn more.

More Raw Milk Recalled

12/04/2024

Learn more about the expanding recall of raw milk products following detection of bird flu in tested samples.

California Birth Centers Are Shutting Down. A Lawmaker Has a New Plan to Help Them

12/02/2024

Birth centers are midwife-run facilities that deliver babies outside of hospitals. They have struggled to stay in business in part because of strict state licensing requirements.

California Democrats Plan to Crack Down on Cities That Block Abortion Clinics

12/02/2024

California Democrats have passed two dozen laws to protect abortion access since the Supreme Court in 2021 overturned Roe vs. Wade. New bills are on the table.

California Dairies Ignore Bird Flu Threat

11/25/2024

Learn how health officials and California dairies are responding, or not, to the explosive spread of bird flu through dairy herds across the state.

The Price Tag on Project 2025’s Abortion Plan: $300 Million Cut to Medi-Cal

11/25/2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom is urgently preparing to protect reproductive rights from the incoming Trump administration—and the looming possibility of Project 2025-inspired policies.

Giving Tuesday December 3: Yolo Crisis Nursery

11/22/2024

Learn how you can support the Yolo Crisis Nursery on Giving Tuesday December 3.

A California Child Tested Positive for Bird Flu. Here’s Why This Case Is Different

11/19/2024

Bird flu has been spreading among dairy workers in California’s Central Valley, jumping from cows to people. A new suspected case in the Bay Area came from an unknown source.

Santa Clara County Ramps Up Response as Invasive Mosquito Detected in More Areas

11/01/2024

The invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitos have been detected in more areas of Santa Clara County, prompting officials to hold meetings to discuss their response to the threat posed by the species. 

Bird Flu Jumped From Cows to People. Now Advocates Want More Farmworkers Tested

10/29/2024

A strain of bird flu that imperiled California poultry and cattle has jumped to people. In humans, the symptoms are mild and the virus has not been transmitted among people.

Yolo Children’s Fund Receives Grant

10/11/2024

A $55,000 Yocha Dehe Community Fund grant has been awarded to The Yolo Children's Fund to provide orthodontic care to children in the Yolo County foster care and juvenile justice system.

Election Explainer: Proposition 35

10/04/2024

The Mercury News explains the Proposition 35 to renew the existing tax used to fund Medi-Cal health services.

State COVID Surge Over But More to Come

10/02/2024

The summer COVID surge in California may be finally abating, but people are still advised to get update vaccines in anticipation of a resurgence in the fall and winter.

A Minimum Wage Increase for California Health Care Workers Is Finally Kicking In

10/01/2024

A California minimum wage law that was delayed amid budget troubles is now set to go into effect Oct. 16. It’s expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of workers.

Vomiting, Cramps and Lethargy: As Heat Rises, California Kids Are Sweltering in Schools With No Air Conditioning

09/30/2024

An estimated 1 in 5 schools has no air conditioning and another 10% need repair. Underfunded schools struggle to keep classrooms cool as heat waves intensify. “It’s a hot mess,” one teacher says.

Yolo County Offers Free Flu Vaccine Clinics

09/26/2024

Get your flu shot at one of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency's free flu clinics held throughout the county this fall.

Most Maternal Deaths Can Be Prevented. Here’s How California Aims to Cut Them in Half

09/17/2024

The California surgeon general is launching a campaign today to spread awareness about health conditions that contribute to pregnancy-related deaths, such as heart disease.

California’s Cap on Health Care Costs Is the Nation’s Strongest. But Will Patients Notice?

09/17/2024

California’s new cap on health care cost increases is regarded as the most aggressive in the nation. It includes potential fines against companies that exceed the limit.

H5N1 Bird Flu Infects California Dairy Cows

09/11/2024

H5N1 bird flu has been reported in three California dairy herds.

Should California Community Colleges Offer Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing? Universities Say No

09/05/2024

Lawmakers approved two bills to allow some community colleges to provide bachelor’s degrees in nursing. That’s setting up another conflict with the California State University, which already offers these bachelor’s degrees.

Respiratory Problems in South Sacramento Under Investigation

09/05/2024

CapRadio reports on an air monitoring program seeking to determine the cause of respiratory illnesses in South Sacramento.

Health Care in California: How the State Made Almost Everyone Eligible for Coverage

09/03/2024

Almost everyone in California has health insurance. That trend reflects about a decade and a half of policymaking designed to expand access to health care. The state’s average uninsured rate has dropped from nearly one in four Californians in 2009 to less than one in ten today.

These Middlemen Say They Keep Drug Prices Low. California Lawmakers Don’t Buy It

08/27/2024

Pharmacy benefit managers attempt to negotiate cost savings for insurers. California is considering new rules that would require them to pass their discounts on to consumers.

Featured

A smoky blanket of particulate matter hovers over San Francisco’s skyline.
Getting Acquainted With AQI
Learn what's getting into Californians’ lungs and why it matters.
States have expansive powers to protect the health of the general public.
The State’s Broad Power to Protect Public Health, Explained
Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states have possessed broad authority to protect public health.
California will soon be getting a new hotline number as an alternative to 911 for mental health crises.
988, the New Mental Health Emergency Number, Explained
Here's the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.
Mosquitos kill about 725,000 people every year, worldwide.
Taking a Bite Out of the Mosquito Population
How local government tries to control the world’s deadliest wild animal—the mosquito.
Access to abortion in California is limited in many areas, though state laws protect a woman’s right to choose.
Abortion Rights in California, Explained
But even in California, access to abortion services in many areas remains limited.
The California mental health crisis is tied to both homelessness and rising crime.
UPDATE: California’s Mental Health Crisis: How We Got Here
The making of Gov. Newsom's plan to help get mentally ill Californians into treatment.
Though life expectancy has declined in recent years, Californians still live longer than most Americans.
Want to Live a Long, Healthy Life? Move to California
Californians live longer than people in all but three states, but not all counties are equal.
From nitrates to arsenic to “forever chemicals,” California’s water supply faces a serious pollution threat.
Dirty Water: California Faces a Water Contamination Crisis
In a state that declares water a “human right,” more than 2 percent of its residents have no drinkable water.
Nurturing Yolo County Families
Yolo County families have many places to find help, including early childhood development services, after-school activities, and recreational opportunities.