California Weekly Roundup: Becoming A Doctor Could Get More Expensive

Also in our inaugural edition: How California is preparing for ACA changes; cities across the state brace for SNAP cuts; will Glenn Medical Center return?; toxic sea dust; and more

Not a subscriber? Sign Up Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Visit KFF Health News for the latest California headlines California Weekly Roundup Dear readers: Welcome to our new weekly California newsletter. Each Wednesday, we'll feature original reporting from our California Bureau, as well as a roundup of news from the Golden State. Tell us what you think; send feedback to Newsletter Editor Lauren Zamarron at LaurenZ@kff.org. THIS WEEK'S FEATURE Many Fear Federal Loan Caps Will Deter Aspiring Doctors and Worsen MD Shortage  (LEONARD ORTIZ / MEDIANEWS GROUP / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER VIA GETTY IMAGES) By Bernard J. Wolfson   Medical educators and health professionals warn that new federal student loan caps in President Donald Trump's tax cut law could make it more expensive for many people to become doctors and could exacerbate physician shortages nationwide. And, they say, the economic burden will steer many medical students to lucrative specialties in more affluent, urban areas rather than lower-paying primary care jobs in underserved and rural communities, where doctors are in shortest supply.   "The growing financial barriers may deter some individuals from pursuing a career in medicine, particularly those from low-income backgrounds," said Deena McRae, a psychiatrist and associate vice president for academic health sciences at University of California Health.   The new federal loan limits, which are enshrined in the GOP legislation signed by Trump on July 4, cap the amount professional degree students can borrow at $50,000 a year, up to a maximum of $200,000 — well below the average cost of a four-year medical school education. Read the full story. More From KFF Health News A Ticking Clock: How States Are Preparing for a Last-Minute Obamacare Deal  By Amanda Seitz and Julie Appleby Even if Congress strikes a deal soon to extend more generous Affordable Care Act subsidies, the prices and types of ACA plans could change dramatically. Upheaval could cloud this year's open enrollment, which begins in most states Saturday. Read the full story.   (PATRICK SISON / AP) Follow us online for more KFF Health News coverage: Top Health Headlines From Around California Federal Shutdown and SNAP Benefits EdSource: California Sues Trump Administration Over Suspension Of SNAP Benefits California has joined 20 other states in suing the Trump administration for suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, best known as SNAP, which 5.5 million Californians rely on for food. (Gallegos, 10/28)   Los Angeles Times: 'I'm Terrified': Hunger Looms As Millions Brace For Loss Of Food Aid Amid Shutdown Michaela Thompson, an unemployed mother in the San Fernando Valley, relies on federal assistance to afford the specialized baby formula her 15-month-old daughter needs because of a feeding disorder. At $47 for a five-day supply, it's out of her reach otherwise. (Rector, Gold, Ceballos, and Plevin, 10/28)   San Francisco Chronicle: S.F. Will Cover SNAP Recipients' Missed Payments. But The Rest Of The Bay Area Is Panicking The roughly 112,000 city residents who use SNAP are expected to have all of their November benefits covered by gift cards the city is preparing to distribute through an $18 million public-private partnership, according to Mayor Daniel Lurie's office. (Garofoli and Koseff, 10/28)   Bay Area News Group: Bay Area Restaurants, Food trucks, Announce Free Meals For SNAP Recipients A growing number of restaurants and food trucks around the Bay Area are announcing their plans to provide a range of free and discounted meals. (Bradshaw, 10/29)   CapRadio: As CalFresh Benefits Pause, 211 Prepares For Surge In Food Assistance Calls Sacramento County's 211 helpline — a free, 24/7 confidential service that connects callers to local social and health resources — is bracing for an unprecedented wave of calls. (Micek, 10/27) Health Industry The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat: Sonoma County Names New Interim Health Officer, As Search For A Permanent Appointee Continues The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Dr. Michael Stacey to a one-year contract beginning Nov. 1, making him the county's fifth health officer in as many years. (Murphy, 10/28)   The Fresno Bee: Fresno's Medical Desert West Of Hwy. 99 Gets A Second Health Center A new health center will open its doors to patients on Nov. 3. West Fresno previously had only one clinic serving the area's over 50,000 residents. (Fannin, 10/28)   CalMatters: Adam Schiff And Doug LaMalfa Want To Reopen This County's Only Hospital. But It Won't Be Easy Two California lawmakers in Congress have revived hopes for Glenn Medical Center's return — though the road to reopening remains uncertain. (Ibarra, 10/29)   The Coast News Group: Palomar Health Agrees To Apply For More State Funding Palomar Health is applying for the second round of a state grant program aimed at expanding behavioral health treatment after losing a $50 million award earlier this year. (Nelson, 10/28)   Bakersfield Now: Mercy Hospital Southwest Unveils $42M Thomas M. Hardt Tower At Gala Celebration This new wing features additional hospital beds, operating rooms, an ICU unit, expanded warehouses, and a new inpatient pharmacy. (10/24)   LAist: The First All-Electric Hospital In The US Will Soon Open In Irvine In December, the country's first all-electric hospital will open in Irvine along the San Joaquin Marsh. (Farzan, 10/24)   Manteca/Ripon Bulletin: Nurses Striking Thursday At Doctors Hospital Manteca Registered nurses at six Tenet Health hospitals in California, including three in the northern San Joaquin Valley, expect to go on a one-day strike Thursday. (10/28)   Victorville Daily Press: New Medical RV To Service Adelanto With Low-Cost And Free Care San Bernardino County has partnered with New Leaf Ministries on a new medical RV with low-to-no-cost services. The RV will be stationed in Adelanto but will serve the entire High Desert. (Mobley, 10/27) Send Us Your Questions If you're LGBTQ+, you need a doctor who gets it. For a future installment of Health Care Helpline, we're reporting on the hurdles to getting good care when you're queer. This crowdsourced project is from NPR and KFF Health News. Share your story with us.  Homelessness and Mental Health The Sacramento Bee: Proposed HUD Cap May Cut Sacramento Homelessness Housing Sacramento County could lose money to support more than 1,000 affordable houses used to help people stay out of homelessness if the Trump administration follows through on a proposed funding change. (Hobbs, 10/28)   Santa Monica Daily Press: County Supervisor Halts Santa Monica Housing Facilities The projects would have converted former senior living buildings on Ocean Avenue into 49 units of supportive housing for people with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. (Hall, 10/27)   Los Angeles Times: Report Asks Why LAPD Mental Health Specialists Defer To Armed Officers A new report from the city controller's office questions the effectiveness of the LAPD's signature crisis response program, saying clinicians trained in de-escalation too often are forced to defer to armed patrol officers. (Jany, 10/29) Public Health San Francisco Chronicle: California Mpox Cases Spur Vaccine Push For High-Risk People California health officials are urging people at high risk of contracting mpox to make sure they're fully vaccinated after three recent locally acquired cases in the state. (Ho, 10/29)   The (San Luis Obispo) Tribune: Need A Free Flu Shot? San Luis Obispo County Pop-Up Clinic Has You Covered San Luis Obispo County residents will be able to get a free vaccination as flu season arrives this week. (Lynch, 10/28)   The San Diego Union-Tribune: Fewer San Diego County Kindergarteners Are Getting Vaccinated Each Year. Here's What The Data Shows For Every School. Dozens of local schools reported immunization rates below 80%, and the countywide rate for measles has slipped below the herd-immunity threshold. (Taketa, 10/27)   Imperial Valley Press: Toxic Salton Sea Dust Triggers Changes After Just One Week Dust from California's rapidly drying Salton Sea doesn't just smell bad; new research from UC Riverside (UCR) has found that breathing the airborne particles can quickly reshape the microscopic world inside the lungs. (10/28) Other California News San Francisco Chronicle: UCSF Receives $100 Million Gift To Boost Dementia Care UCSF has received a $100 million donation for its memory and aging center. (Allday, 10/29)   East Bay Times: Bay Area Senior Services At Risk Due To Government Funding Shortfalls Healthy, hot-cooked meals, exercise sessions and other services for older adults are on the chopping block in parts of the Bay Area as service providers feel the squeeze of shrinking government budgets. (Matemba-Mutasa, 10/27)   Times-Standard: Humboldt County's Measure S Cannabis Tax Repealed By Supervisors On Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors repealed Measure S in a unanimous vote, with Michelle Bushnell recused. (Alexander, 10/28)   The Modesto Bee: California Students Sick After Eating THC-Laced Candy Several students at Robert J. McGarvey Elementary School in Rancho Cordova were sickened Thursday after eating candy brought by a student that contained THC. (Smith, 10/24) Helping Hands The Signal: 'Solidarity Sewing Workshop' Creates Hundreds Of Mastectomy Pillows The goal of the second annual "Solidarity Sewing Workshop" in Valencia: Between 250 to 300 pillows finished by the end of the day. (Mostafa, 10/25)   The (Santa Clarity Valley) Signal: Circle Of Hope Celebrates 21 Years Of Fighting Cancer At Annual Tea Circle of Hope Inc.'s annual tea began 21 years ago in Colleen Shaffer's very own backyard to help provide financial aid for cancer patients in need. (Qezada, 10/28) This Week's 'KFF Health News Minute' More men are developing osteoporosis, but insurance often won't pay to screen them; The Trump administration's cuts to a digital equity program are setting back efforts to help some rural committees access telehealth. 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