A Commonwealth Fund breakdown of federal data shows premiums plus deductibles took up about 10% of median family income in 2024, with wide state gaps that could squeeze middle‑class households. The burden is highest in some Southern states and lowest in D.C.

A major meta-analysis finds mortality starts to fall near 4,000 daily steps — not 10,000. Small walks can add measurable benefits.

Former players, students and local leaders packed a Stanford panel to push back on mental-health stigma and point attendees to local crisis resources.

The Pentagon says it still needs PFAS‑treated turnout gear while cities like San Francisco quietly finish switching to PFAS‑free ensembles and testing mounts.

A statewide plan to wire 9‑1‑1 into California’s 988 lifeline has stalled, leaving crisis centers unpaid and callers facing uneven routing. Providers and advocates are pressing for faster action as demand surges.

Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco abruptly cancels classes due to three active tuberculosis cases, moving to remote learning while health officials conduct testing.

Three active tuberculosis cases connected to Archbishop Riordan have prompted mandatory testing, masking and contact tracing at the Westwood Park campus.

Zak Williams has joined San Francisco AI startup Headlamp Health as a health adviser to Lumos AI, a platform aiming to use multimodal data to spot early mental‑health warning signs and improve treatment matching.

Contra Costa County faces a potential loss of healthcare coverage for 93,000 residents and a $300 million funding shortfall due to federal and state policy changes.

A drug‑resistant fungus, Candida auris, is spreading in California hospitals and nursing homes; the sickest patients are most vulnerable and facilities are tightening screening and cleaning.

Major pediatric and emergency medicine groups issued updated standards saying many ERs lack pediatric readiness; experts estimate better preparedness could save about 2,100 lives. A new national assessment launches in March.

The article discusses the slight decline in overdose deaths in San Francisco, with a focus on efforts to address the ongoing public health crisis, particularly those related to fentanyl.

An analysis of millions of California pregnancies reveals a sharp rise in prenatal opioid use over the past decade, with newborns increasingly born into withdrawal and requiring intensive medical care. The surge is fueling calls for expanded maternal treatment programs.