Santa Clara County officials are preparing to propose a sales tax increase to voters in an effort to safeguard the county’s public hospital system from severe federal revenue losses. The Board of Supervisors is expected to convene a special meeting around August 7 to decide whether to place the measure on the November 4 ballot. The proposed five-eighths cent sales tax would raise the current rate from 9.125% and is seen as a crucial step to help offset billions in anticipated funding cu

Hospice care workers in the East Bay staged a one-day strike on Tuesday, stepping away from their duties to protest rising caseloads, ongoing contract delays, and recent organizational changes. The strike unfolded in Pleasant Hill, where employees gathered outside a facility to voice growing concerns about conditions that they say are negatively affecting both staff and patients. Those on the picket line pointed to several issues fueling the labor action. Chief among them is the c

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte has permanently closed five of its Northern California health centers, including locations in South San Francisco, San Mateo, Gilroy, Westside/Santa Cruz, and Madera. The closures mark a significant loss of health services for thousands of patients in the region. The organization cited recent federal policy changes that restrict funding for clinics providing abortion services, except in limited cases, as the driving force behind the decision. These closures have cut

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way Indian professionals work in the USA, allowing them to boost productivity, streamline processes, and foster innovation. From tech experts to healthcare professionals, AI is transforming their roles across industries. Let’s take a quick look at how AI is being utilized by Indian professionals in the USA. AI Tools That Boost Productivity Indian professionals are us

Americans’ unpaid medical debt will continue to appear on their credit reports after a federal judge in Texas overturned a major Biden-era Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule intended to remove such debts. The decision, delivered last week by Judge Sean Jordan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, marks a significant blow to a policy aimed at easing the credit burden for millions of Americans. The court found that the CFPB overstepped its legal autho

On January 7, 2025, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a significant draft guidance titled “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Software as a Medical Device.” While the release may not have received widespread media attention, its impact on startups and innovators in the healthcare technology space is expected to be profound. The document outlines new expectations for how companies should design, test, validate, and monitor AI-powered medical

In a major development that could bring relief to thousands of patients across India, the central government is preparing to slash prices of critical and life-saving medicines, particularly those used to treat cancer, HIV, and rare genetic disorders. A recently accessed official document reveals that an interdepartmental committee has recommended a set of sweeping customs duty exemptions and concessions aimed at making high-cost medical treatments more accessible to Indian patients.

  Santa Clara County’s expansive public hospital system, the second largest in California, is now facing a financial crisis as sweeping federal budget cuts threaten to erase over $1 billion in vital revenue over the next few years. Just months after the county celebrated the expansion of its health system with the acquisition of Regional Medical Center in East San Jose, leaders now confront a bleak future triggered by President Donald Trump’s recent signing of H.R.

A major hospital in downtown Chicago has unveiled plans to construct a new tower on its Streeterville campus that would significantly enhance its ability to deliver advanced cancer treatment and expand overall patient care capacity. The project aims to centralize cancer services and increase the number of medical and intensive care beds available to meet rising demand. The proposed tower would include up to 278 medical and surgical beds and add 36 intensive care unit beds. This ex

The community of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, is reeling after the announcement that Ascension Alexian Brothers Hospital will be eliminating its labor and delivery services. The decision, revealed earlier this week, has stirred deep concern and criticism, particularly from former staff members and advocates for equitable maternal health care. According to hospital officials, the services will be consolidated and transferred to a new, centralized labor and delivery center approximately 10 mile

In recent years, more and more individuals in India are choosing to remain child-free or find themselves without direct heirs, raising important questions about retirement planning. For those without children to lean on, preparing for the later years of life becomes about more than just saving money it’s about securing independence, comfort, and care. Financial experts, including Ajay Kumar Yadav, Group CEO and

Twenty US states, led by California, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration accusing it of illegally releasing private Medicaid health data to immigration authorities. The suit challenges the federal government’s decision to share detailed personal health information of noncitizen Medicaid enrollees with the Department of Homeland Security. The data reportedly included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, immigration status, and medical records, and was transferred wit

National Doctor's Day, observed every year on July 1, holds great significance in India, as it honors the invaluable contributions of doctors and healthcare professionals to the well-being of individuals and communities. The Government of India officially designated July 1 as National Doctor's Day in 1991, marking the birth anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India’s most respected physicians and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Stanford Medicine has ended all gender-affirming surgical procedures for patients under 19, effective June 2, 2025. The healthcare provider cited recent federal actions and directives as major factors influencing the decision. Leadership within Stanford’s clinical programs, including its LGBTQ+ care team, participated in reviewing these developments before finalizing the policy change. This move significantly alters access to medical transition services for minors in the region.

Retiring at 40 has become an exciting goal for many young professionals seeking freedom from traditional work life. While the idea of stopping work just when others are reaching their career peaks sounds appealing, achieving this early retirement requires disciplined saving, careful investing, and thorough planning. Experts say that to comfortably retire by 40, you must save between 35 to 79 times your annual expenses depending on your current age and lifestyl

Santa Clara County supervisors have taken a major step toward adopting a $14 billion budget that attempts to preserve essential public services amid mounting state and federal funding threats. The unanimous preliminary approval followed weeks of hearings and workshops, with final adoption expected on June 17. However, the mood among county leaders was far from celebratory, as they confronted the reality of declining external support and growing local demand. Supervisors acknowledg

Indian-origin psychiatrist and former CEO of Sovereign Health Group, Tonmoy Sharma, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in connection with a staggering $149 million healthcare fraud. Sharma, 61, originally from Guwahati, Assam, was taken into custody on May 29 following an eight-count federal grand jury indictment that includes charges of wire fraud, conspiracy, and illegal kickbacks. According to federal prosecutors, Sharma’s company, Sovereign Health, engaged in a system

Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, found herself at the center of controversy during a town hall event in her home state, as constituents repeatedly challenged her over proposed Medicaid cuts included in the House's budget bill. Tensions escalated when an attendee accused the cuts of potentially leading to deaths, prompting Ernst to respond with a remark that drew immediate jeers from the crowd. "People are not—well, we all are going to die, so, for heav

Commuters in Prince William County faced significant delays Thursday morning following a traffic crash that resulted in multiple lane closures on a major thoroughfare. Authorities confirmed that only one lane remained open on the Prince William County Parkway as police responded to the incident. The Prince William County Police Department issued a public advisory just after 7:15 a.m., alerting drivers through social media that a crash had severely impacted the flow of traffic.

In response to looming federal and state funding cuts, Santa Clara County officials are taking decisive action to protect the viability of their vast public hospital system. The latest move involves a major shake-up of the Santa Clara Family Health Plan’s leadership, with the county seeking greater control over how Medi-Cal reimbursements are handled. At a Board of Supervisors meeting held on May 20, officials voted unanimously to replace a majority of the Family Health Plan’s gov