An illustration of training options. (Image: Alexander Supertramp, Shutterstock)OPINION:Hidden behind the headline are some facts suggesting the state is headed toward a recession-like slowdown in the economy and job market. First, job growth was not evenly distributed across the state — roughly 74% of the June job growth was in the Bay Area and Los Angeles unemployment increased by 7,000 claims.
A pharmaceutical worker examines drugs at a dispensary. (Photo: i viewfinder, via Shutterstock)The PBMs originated in the 1960s to help health plans, self-insured employers and government entities, among others, to negotiate prescription drug prices and efficiently distribute medications. Since then, they have evolved into a money-making industry without regulations, experts say. By one estimate, three major PBM companies had a staggering $270 billion in revenues in 2014.
OPINION: Tens of thousands of homes lost power, hundreds reported gas leaks, and dozens of gas lines broke in the quake, forcefully reminding us about the vulnerability of not only our buildings but also of our energy infrastructure