McKenzie Richards
Commentary
Read how shoplifting effects pharmacy shortages
Pharmacies Keep Closing: Blame Shoplifting and Intentional Pharmacist Shortages
While local and national media outlets frequently report on food deserts, particularly in cities that lack sufficient grocery stores, there is one major shortage that goes largely unnoticed by the press: pharmacies. “Pharmacy deserts” pose a real threat, particularly for vulnerable populations. This is something I’ve seen firsthand. Last year,
Blog
Key Takeaways from President Biden’s Proposed 2024 Healthcare Budget
The United States currently faces a deficit of over $700 billion. Not including other health programs, in 2021, over $734 billion was spent on Medicaid alone. Despite these facts, President Biden’s 2024 budget proposal aims to increase funding for healthcare by 11.5%. The proposal claims proposed tax increases will not
Blog
$25 Minimum Wage for All “Healthcare Workers” Would Increase Hospital Closures
While those who do these jobs are hardworking and deserve to be paid well for doing such tough work, forcibly increasing the minimum wage to an unaffordable $25 per hour will cause increased financial strain on hospitals and healthcare facilities already struggling to keep doors open. In the current economic
Blog
Are Los Angeles’ world-renowned hospitals price transparent?
In 2021, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out new rules requiring every licensed hospital to display costs for services. All hospitals have been required to list prices (whether that’s cash, gross charges, or negotiated) and display estimates in a consumer-friendly manner. Unsurprisingly, many hospitals refused
Animals
California’s Wiley Urban Coyotes
Last week, a home security camera in a suburban Woodland Hills neighborhood captured shocking footage of a coyote attacking a toddler girl. Having just returned home from preschool pick-up, the child’s father had turned his back for just a moment as he unloaded the SUV. When he heard his child
Blog
Feeble cheer for California’s nurse practitioners
Unsurprisingly, California has historically been among the most restrictive states in the nation when it comes to nurse practitioners’ independence. But starting January 1, 2023, nurse practitioners can finally work toward receiving “full-practice” authorization in California as AB 890 (2020) comes into effect. While the text of the legislation states
Blog
Simple solutions that boost neighborhood healthcare
Simple solutions that boost neighborhood healthcare by McKenzie Richards Perhaps I should not have moved to Los Angeles given that I hate driving. Driving here – and in any city, really – can be chaotic, unpredictable and time-consuming. For a recent doctor’s appointment, I opted to walk instead. Never having
Blog
Health Care Priorities for Next Congress
Election day approaches quickly. But no matter who wins come November, Americans must urge Congress to prioritize health care policy. Health care costs are consistently rising which endangers lives because costs can constrain patients from receiving needed care. Pandemic exigencies further highlighted shortcomings in our health care system. Before pandemic
Blog
Prop 29 Isn’t Kidney-ing Around
During the pandemic, suddenly everyone became armchair medical experts – much to the chagrin of actual epidemiologists. We soon learned the dangers of politicizing health issues. But on this year’s ballot, California voters will have to become armchair medical experts when they vote on Proposition 29, who will be
Blog
In Political Speech, “Universal” Means Anything But
Every few months, the argument to “universalize” some sector of the economy captures national attention – be it for universal health care, universal childcare, or universal student loan forgiveness. All the arguments have an all-too-often overlooked fatal flaw: they assume goods are not scarce. In economic terms, all goods have
Read how shoplifting effects pharmacy shortages
Pharmacies Keep Closing: Blame Shoplifting and Intentional Pharmacist Shortages
While local and national media outlets frequently report on food deserts, particularly in cities that lack sufficient grocery stores, there is one major shortage that goes largely unnoticed by the press: pharmacies. “Pharmacy deserts” pose a real threat, particularly for vulnerable populations. This is something I’ve seen firsthand. Last year,
Key Takeaways from President Biden’s Proposed 2024 Healthcare Budget
The United States currently faces a deficit of over $700 billion. Not including other health programs, in 2021, over $734 billion was spent on Medicaid alone. Despite these facts, President Biden’s 2024 budget proposal aims to increase funding for healthcare by 11.5%. The proposal claims proposed tax increases will not
$25 Minimum Wage for All “Healthcare Workers” Would Increase Hospital Closures
While those who do these jobs are hardworking and deserve to be paid well for doing such tough work, forcibly increasing the minimum wage to an unaffordable $25 per hour will cause increased financial strain on hospitals and healthcare facilities already struggling to keep doors open. In the current economic
Are Los Angeles’ world-renowned hospitals price transparent?
In 2021, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out new rules requiring every licensed hospital to display costs for services. All hospitals have been required to list prices (whether that’s cash, gross charges, or negotiated) and display estimates in a consumer-friendly manner. Unsurprisingly, many hospitals refused
California’s Wiley Urban Coyotes
Last week, a home security camera in a suburban Woodland Hills neighborhood captured shocking footage of a coyote attacking a toddler girl. Having just returned home from preschool pick-up, the child’s father had turned his back for just a moment as he unloaded the SUV. When he heard his child
Feeble cheer for California’s nurse practitioners
Unsurprisingly, California has historically been among the most restrictive states in the nation when it comes to nurse practitioners’ independence. But starting January 1, 2023, nurse practitioners can finally work toward receiving “full-practice” authorization in California as AB 890 (2020) comes into effect. While the text of the legislation states
Simple solutions that boost neighborhood healthcare
Simple solutions that boost neighborhood healthcare by McKenzie Richards Perhaps I should not have moved to Los Angeles given that I hate driving. Driving here – and in any city, really – can be chaotic, unpredictable and time-consuming. For a recent doctor’s appointment, I opted to walk instead. Never having
Health Care Priorities for Next Congress
Election day approaches quickly. But no matter who wins come November, Americans must urge Congress to prioritize health care policy. Health care costs are consistently rising which endangers lives because costs can constrain patients from receiving needed care. Pandemic exigencies further highlighted shortcomings in our health care system. Before pandemic
Prop 29 Isn’t Kidney-ing Around
During the pandemic, suddenly everyone became armchair medical experts – much to the chagrin of actual epidemiologists. We soon learned the dangers of politicizing health issues. But on this year’s ballot, California voters will have to become armchair medical experts when they vote on Proposition 29, who will be
In Political Speech, “Universal” Means Anything But
Every few months, the argument to “universalize” some sector of the economy captures national attention – be it for universal health care, universal childcare, or universal student loan forgiveness. All the arguments have an all-too-often overlooked fatal flaw: they assume goods are not scarce. In economic terms, all goods have
