Maintaining health coverage plays a critical role in protecting your long-term health and your family’s well-being. Preventive care — including routine screenings, wellness visits, and age-appropriate checkups — can detect health issues early, support chronic disease management, and help you stay healthier year-round. Covered California health plans include preventive services that are available at no ...

By Bo Tefu California Black Media California is expanding mental health and substance use disorder treatment statewide with a new $1.18 billion funding round, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced March 12. The investment supports 66 new projects across 130 behavioral health facilities, including rural and tribal communities, and creates additional residential and crisis treatment centers. “It’s ...

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ In December, incoming California Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) announced her leadership and committee appointments for the 2025–2026 legislative session, including several members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). Senators Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D–Los Angeles), Laura Richardson (D–Inglewood), and Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson (D–San Diego) ...

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Sr Natl Correspondent The battles over the Affordable Care Act were never only about policy or the price of insurance. They were never simply arguments about federal subsidies, individual mandates, or the markets that hold the system together. From the moment America elected a Black president and that ...

By Dianne Anderson Growing up low-income in Los Angeles, April Watkins knows firsthand about the impact of poverty on young children, remembering what it was like worrying whether there would be enough to eat or how the rent would be paid. When she participated in a health program about a year ago, even health providers ...

by Dianne Anderson It’s that time of year again, when Black men fear not being taken seriously, or discriminated against by doctors, or need a PhD to dig through a maze of buried links to find local free and low-cost preventative screenings. But that’s no reason to skip the to-do list. Heart health – check, ...

by Dianne Anderson Here comes the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act starting to wind down the Senate pipeline, set to reduce and cut urgent community health services, food stamps, public health and environmental oversight. Adding to what keeps advocates awake at night, the bill H.R.1 – also dubbed the Big Ugly Bill and Robin ...

by Dianne Anderson Federal cuts coming down hard are set to impact health-focused nonprofits trying to reach the Black underserved community that is already facing higher death rates in nearly every category compared to whites. The overall impact is disturbing, but no surprise for healthcare advocate Rhonda Smith. She said it was predictable and contained in ...

Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center (SMMC) hosted its annual Community Grant Awards Luncheon, reaffirming its commitment to improving health and well-being in the greater Long Beach area. The event, held at the hospital, showcased SMMC’s dedication to addressing the health needs of the community. During the luncheon, the hospital awarded over $200,000 to ...

As part of a statewide response to multiple wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area, California Department of Public Health is urging Californians in areas affected by wildfire smoke to take steps to protect their health, including staying indoors and reducing outdoor activity if necessary to avoid the inhalation of smoke and ash. Californians can ...