California’s Next Assembly Speaker. Maybe.

Late Friday, just as legislators — and everyone else in the state — were preparing to check out for the long holiday weekend, an earthquake rocked the California political world: Assemblymember Robert Rivas, a Salinas Democrat, announced that he had “secured enough votes” to become the next speaker of the California Assembly.

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Politics and Pandemic Fatigue Doom California’s Covid Vaccine Mandates

In January, progressive California Democrats vowed to adopt the toughest covid vaccine requirements in the country. Their proposals would have required most Californians to get the shots to go to school or work — without allowing exemptions to get out of them.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom Tests Positive For COVID-19, Has ‘Mild Symptoms’

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he tested positive for the coronavirus Saturday, making him the latest government official to contract the virus that relentlessly continues to challenge healthcare systems across the nation and around the world

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7 Job Killer Bills Pass to Second House

Seven California Chamber of Commerce job killer proposals have moved on to the second house, passing a key legislative deadline on May 27 that required nontax-related bills to pass out of the house in which they were introduced.

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Fixing The Obamacare ‘Glitch’ That Pushed One Couple To Divorce

The scene seems straight out of a movie: A young couple stands solemnly before the judge. They’ve been married just a year, and they’re here – for the second time – to ask for a divorce. A month ago, the same judge gave them a hard time, then said no. He still thinks there is ...

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CVS Health Rolls Out Virtual Primary Care Service

Retail drugstore giant CVS is rolling out a virtual care service that gives consumers access to primary care, on-demand care, chronic condition management and mental health services. Eligible Aetna and CVS Caremark members will be able to use the virtual primary care service to access healthcare services on demand, whether at home or in a retail or community-based ...

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Lack Of Price Transparency Still Keeping Many From Seeking Health Care

Inability to pay for health care has been a major driver for many to avoid the health care system, but simply not being sure if a service is affordable is enough of a deterrent for many Americans. According to new research by HealthSparq, a health data company, as much as 44% of people may be deterred from obtaining ...

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Healthcare Spending Could Drop $11.4B Next Year If ACA Premium Subsidies Expire, Research Finds

Dive Brief: * Healthcare spending could drop by more than $11.4 billion next year if enhanced premium tax credits enacted in the American Rescue Plan expire, new research finds. * Hospital spending would decline by $3.8 billion, while spending on physician practice services would drop by $1.3 billion, according to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson ...

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Medicare Recipients To See Premium Cut — But Not Until 2023

Medicare recipients will get a premium reduction — but not until next year — reflecting what Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Friday was an overestimate in costs of covering an expensive and controversial new Alzheimer’s drug. Becerra’s statement said the 2022 premium should be adjusted downward but legal and operational hurdles prevented ...

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Bay Area COVID Cases Surpass 2021 Winter Surge, But Far Fewer Hospitalized

Coronavirus cases in the Bay Area’s spring surge have surpassed the peaks of the devastating winter wave of early 2021, but high levels of vaccination and immunity in the community are keeping hospitalizations at more manageable levels so far, and deaths remain notably low throughout the region. Statewide, coronavirus cases continue to rise sharply, with ...

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