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Yolo County Health Digest



CA Indoor Heat Rule Put on Fast Track

07/25/2024

After years of delay, a new California regulation to protect indoor workers from extreme heat is now in effect.

California Sent a Mentally Ill Man to a State Hospital. Then It Charged Him $760,000

07/17/2024

California State Hospitals can bill patients for the care they receive during confinement. The charges often run in the tens of thousands of dollars, putting vulnerable people in debt for years.

Can California’s Health Care Providers Help Solve the State’s Homelessness Crisis?

07/10/2024

Taking advantage of new state funds, some California healthcare providers are starting to offer what their homeless patients really need: housing.

A Guide to Protecting Yourself from Mosquitos (and West Nile Virus)

06/28/2024

It's mosquito season, and West Nile virus has been detected in Yolo, Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. CapRadio presents a guide to staying safe.

Yolo Mosquitos Test Positive for West Nile

06/27/2024

On June 26, the Yolo County Mosquito Vector Control District reported mosquitos sampled from Dunnigan tested positive for the West Nile virus.

Drinking Water of Almost a Million Californians Failed to Meet State Requirements

06/25/2024

Almost 400 suppliers, two-thirds in communities of color, don’t meet safety and reliability standards. Fixing them would cost billions.

‘Total System Breakdown’: California Firefighters With PTSD Face a Workers’ Comp Nightmare

06/25/2024

Even when suicidal, California firefighters struggle to find medical help and navigate the workers’ comp morass to pay for it.

COVID Frequently Asked Questions

06/24/2024

As COVID infections increase, CapRadio provides answers to frequently asked questions.

Yolo County Measles Cases Reported

06/21/2024

The Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency announced two local confirmed cases of measles.

The California Maternity Wards That Are Staying Open

06/06/2024

Over the last decade, nearly 50 maternity wards have closed across California, with more than half shutting down in just the last four years.

Why CA Families Are Getting a Tax Surprise for Health Care

06/04/2024

For families seeking affordable health insurance, the state’s health insurance marketplace, Covered California, can provide major relief. But if they’re not careful, they can get hit by an unexpected federal tax bill.

Sacramento City Council Approves Electric Appliance Plan

05/15/2024

In its May 14 meeting, the Sacramento City Council unanimously approved a plan to encourage residents and businesses to replace gas appliances with electric.

Counties Prepare for Mosquito Season

05/14/2024

Mosquito vector control agencies are preparing for mosquito season in San Joaquin and Sacramento counties.

Verge Evictions Highlight Need for More Inclusive Practices in Sacramento Arts Scene, Artists of Color Say

04/26/2024

Dozens of members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, including vocational nurses, social workers, kitchen and janitorial staff, picketed outside the Sutter Center for Psychiatry

Bill Would Allow Arizona Abortion Providers to Practice in California Temporarily

04/24/2024

Newsom-backed bill would allow Arizona abortion providers to practice in California as the Republican-led state restricts access.

Newsom Calls Out Republican Abortion Policies in New Ad Running in Alabama

04/21/2024

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new ad blasts GOP efforts to make it harder for people to leave states with abortion bans and seek treatment elsewhere.

California Sets Nation’s First Water Standard for Cancer-Causing Contaminant

04/17/2024

Water suppliers say the costs will be massive, with rates increasing for many consumers. Known as the “Erin Brockovich” chemical, hexavalent chromium is found statewide.

In San Francisco’s Chinatown, a CEO Works With the Community to Bolster Hospital

04/16/2024

Chinese Hospital, located in the heart of this city's legendary Chinatown, struggles with many of the same financial and demographic challenges that plague small independent hospitals in underserved areas across the country.

Supervisors Discuss Local Medi-Cal Health Coverage in County

04/09/2024

In their April 9 meeting, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors discussed the plight of 17,000 local Medi-Cal recipients who are scrambling to find new primary care providers by May 1.

We Must Take Better Care of Our Home-Based Child Care Providers

04/09/2024

These professionals provide essential services, but their pay and working conditions do not reflect their value, and their health suffers.

First 5 Yolo Celebrates New Welcome Baby Program

04/06/2024

After its first year in operation, First 5 Yolo reports on the progress of its Welcome Baby program.

Homeless Infants and Toddlers Largely Unenrolled in Early Ed Programs

03/28/2024

Evictions have exacerbated homelessness nationwide, increasing the rate of homeless infants and toddlers. Most of those children are not enrolled in early education programs.

Your Doctor or Your Insurer? Little-Known Rules May Ease the Choice in Medicare Advantage

03/28/2024

Disputes between insurers and providers can lead to entire hospital systems suddenly leaving the plans.

California’s Disabled Students Left Behind During Emergencies: ‘They Just Weren’t Ready for Someone Like Me’

03/27/2024

After bringing his story all the way to the University of California Board of Regents, a disabled UC Berkeley student has prompted the UC to ensure emergency evacuation chairs are in every multi-storied building in the 10-university system.

At Stake in Mifepristone Case: Abortion, FDA’s Authority, and Return to 1873 Obscenity Law

03/25/2024

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit of an urgent priority: shutting down access to abortion pills for women across the country.

California Attorney General Boosts Bill Banning Medical Debt From Credit Reports

03/10/2024

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday that he is throwing his weight behind legislation to bar medical debt from showing up on consumer credit reports, a Democratic-led effort to offer protection to patients squeezed by health care bills.

San Francisco Voters Pass Police & Drug Ballot Measures

03/08/2024

Proposition E broadens police surveillance powers and Proposition F mandates drug screening and treatment for people receiving county welfare benefits who are suspected of drug use.

Study Finds Almost 50% of San Francisco Drug Users Not Residents

03/01/2024

A report of a 12 month study which ended in February indicates almost half of those cited for drug usage were not residents of the city, leading to questions about city approaches to drug addiction.

New Epilepsy Unit Offers Advanced Diagnostic and Treatment Methods

02/29/2024

Cutting-edge technology at UC Davis allows patients’ seizure activity to be carefully analyzed, leading to more effective interventions.

Antidepressant Prescriptions to Young People Surged During the Pandemic

02/27/2024

The monthly rate of antidepressants being dispensed to young people increased about 64% more quickly during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

California Hospitals, Advocates Seek Stable Funding to Retain Behavioral Health Navigators

02/26/2024

Health providers and addiction experts warn the funding structure is unstable for a California initiative that steers patients with substance use disorder into long-term treatment.

‘Fourth Wave’ of Opioid Epidemic Crashes Ashore, Propelled by Fentanyl and Meth

02/20/2024

The United States is knee-deep in what some experts call the opioid epidemic's "fourth wave," which is not only placing drug users at greater risk but is also complicating efforts to address the nation's drug problem.

Featured

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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.
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