A new survey shows that a shortage of allied health professionals barely registers on the public radar. The California State University system is gearing up to address those shortages and fill new training needs. By George Lauer

Critics and fans of single payer health coverage both claim that a report by the Legislative Analyst's Office predicting massive amounts of red ink strengthens their argument. Both sides agree that while the issue may be moot for now, it will rise again.  By George Lauer

San Francisco's Health Service System, working with consultants and vendors, has engineered a collaborative, cooperative program to compare health insurance plans offered to city workers and retirees.  By George Lauer

At a smoking cessation forum last week in San Francisco, tobacco foes argued for stronger anti-smoking policies, and two large California employers announced new programs to help their workers quit the habit. By George Lauer

Last week, rural health clinic officials formed a new California organization to educate and advocate on behalf of "one of the most misunderstood and overlooked pieces in the health system." State officials say they are ready to work with the group. By George Lauer

Of the eight propositions so far to qualify for California's November ballot, two deal with health care -- a measure seeking to prohibit abortions for minors without family notification and a bond measure for children's hospitals. Both might look familiar to Californians who voted in recent elections. By George Lauer

Belt-tightening in California this spring isn't limited to talk of next year's budget. A penny-pinching mood -- set by two appropriations committees -- has settled over both houses of the state Legislature.  By George Lauer

In five months, Californians have moved from talking about major reforms that would bring affordable health care to almost everyone in the state to talking about deep cuts in the Medi-Cal program that could add 800,000 to the 6.7 million already without health insurance. Immigrants will be among the most affected, health advocates predict. By George Lauer

The next resident in the White House may change national policy regarding stem cell research but it probably won't have much of an impact on California's stem cell agency, experts predict. No matter who wins the election and how policies change, ethical challenges in medicine are here to stay. By George Lauer

An Assembly bill that would require companies bidding on California state contracts to provide wellness benefits for employees fits in with a national trend of state legislatures encouraging healthy habits.  By George Lauer

As society's approach to end-of-life issues changes, California health care officials and lawmakers are responding with new ways to help society confront mortality. California is one of the first states pursuing a new effort to offer curative and hospice care simultaneously to terminally ill children.  By George Lauer

Critics say changes proposed for two California programs providing health coverage for low-income children -- Healthy Families and Medi-Cal -- bode ill for "the most vulnerable population" in the state. By George Lauer

An Institute of Medicine report released last week called for major changes in the health care system to meet the needs of an aging population. One of the report's authors said changes could be of the same scale as those that came out of the emergence of HIV/AIDS. By George Lauer

Like many of the patients it serves, California's county-based mental health system seems to operate on a cycle of coping and crisis. Indications are we're headed into crisis mode. Three counties are threatening to drop out of the Medi-Cal mental health program, and several other counties are experiencing other mental health meltdowns.  By George Lauer

According to a national report card issued last week, the quality of California's health care dropped slightly last year compared to the year before. Hospital officials and physicians welcome quality comparisons but urge patients and purchasers to keep report cards in context. By George Lauer