Don Thompson, KFF Health News

Most recent articles by Don Thompson, KFF Health News

Delicate labor-industry deal in flux as Newsom revisits $25 minimum health wage
Delicate labor-industry deal in flux as Newsom revisits $25 minimum health wage
Don Thompson, KFF Health News
January 11, 2024
10:00 am

Gov. Gavin Newsom is revisiting California’s phase-in of a nation-leading $25 minimum wage for health workers in the face of a projected $38 billion deficit, less than three months after he approved the measure.

California expands paid sick days and boosts health worker wages
California expands paid sick days and boosts health worker wages
Don Thompson, KFF Health News
October 25, 2023
10:30 am

California continues to burnish its reputation as a progressive state for health policy as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills expanding paid sick leave, and more.

California lawmakers approve nation-leading $25 minimum wage for health workers
California lawmakers approve nation-leading $25 minimum wage for health workers
Don Thompson, KFF Health News
September 18, 2023
10:30 am

The pact would phase in the wage increase for hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical and psychiatric services providers.

Pain clinic chain to pay $11.4M to settle Medicare and Medicaid fraud claims
Pain clinic chain to pay $11.4M to settle Medicare and Medicaid fraud claims
Don Thompson, KFF Health News
July 27, 2023
2:30 pm

The owner of one of California’s largest chains of pain management clinics has agreed to pay nearly $11.4 million to California, Oregon, and the federal government to settle allegations of Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

As low-nicotine cigarettes hit the market, anti-smoking groups press for wider standard
As low-nicotine cigarettes hit the market, anti-smoking groups press for wider standard
Don Thompson, KFF Health News
July 5, 2023
10:50 am

The first authorized cigarettes with 95% less nicotine than traditional smokes are coming to California, Florida, and Texas in early July, after a year of test-marketing in Illinois and Colorado.

California’s fentanyl problem is getting worse
California’s fentanyl problem is getting worse
Don Thompson, KFF Health News
May 23, 2023
2:00 pm

Provisional data for last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a small annual increase in overdose deaths in California, to nearly 12,000.

California confronts overdose epidemic among former prison inmates
California confronts overdose epidemic among former prison inmates
Don Thompson, KFF Health News
May 10, 2023
3:30 pm

Individuals newly released from prison are 40 times as likely to die of opioid overdoses as members of the general population, researchers say.

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