KFF Health News

California's child homicide rate dropped 50% from 2011-20 and is down 70% from three decades earlier. Many experts credit safe surrender laws that came online in the state around 2001.

The company awarded the state’s Medi-Cal Rx contract was taken over by another company, Centene. That left the state with a contractor it didn’t pick — one that has been accused of overbilling nine states.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many people to telework, allowed more flexibility in work schedules, prompting sleep scientists to rethink assumptions about sleep and how to assess patients.

In announcing the fines, state agency directors said: “The magnitude of L.A. Care’s violations, which has resulted in harm to its members, requires immediate action.” The health plan has 2.4 million Medi-Cal enrollees.

New data published in JAMA Psychiatry showed that people with schizophrenia were nearly three times as likely to die from COVID-19 as the general population.

This comes as public awareness of autism and research on it have grown and insurance coverage for treatment is more widespread. In February, Texas became the last state to cover a widely used autism therapy through Medicaid.

Throughout history, parents have searched for the secret to getting fretful children to sleep through the night. The latest strategy involves giving children melatonin-infused gummies and tablets, a trend that concerns some doctors.

Sewage surveillance is proving so useful in mapping COVID-19 trends that many public health officials say it should become standard practice for tracking infectious diseases.

TikTok videos by Black mental health professionals are finding an audience.

California may have lifted its mask mandate, but Dr. Mark Ghaly says he still wears a mask in grocery stores and will only dine outside at restaurants.