Kristen Hwang, CalMatters
Kristen Hwang reports on health care and policy for CalMatters. She is passionate about humanizing data-driven stories and examining the intersection of public health and social justice. Prior to joining CalMatters, Kristen earned a master’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public health from UC Berkeley, where she researched water quality in the Central Valley. She has previously worked as a beat reporter for The Desert Sun and a stringer for the New York Times California COVID-19 team.
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More than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente employees initiating the largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history when they walked off the job the morning of October 4, 2023. Contract talks continue, but some health services will be delayed in the meantime.
As other states restrict or ban abortions, California laws just signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom aim to improve access and protect patients and clinicians. They will also expand services to accommodate an expected influx from other states.
Monkeypox vaccine rollout has been slower in California's Central Valley than in its major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. LGBTQ+ advocates in San Jose, Fresno, and other Central Valley communities are asking for more resources.
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the Roe decision, here are key takeaways of what to expect for abortion in California. They include the politics, more legislation, a possible influx of out-of-state patients and changes for health care providers.
Newsom unveiled a "SMARTER" preparedness plan, including stockpiling masks and tests. But has the state learned lessons from its erratic handling of the pandemic?