Katie Van Deynze. Image by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly. When Katie Van Deynze talks about healthcare policy, people listen. At 29 years old, she serves as Senior Legislative Advocate at Health Access California, where she has established herself as a trusted voice in the Capitol community.
Image by nd3000OPINION – Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) play an indispensable role in California’s health care system, particularly for underserved and rural communities where anesthesia access is critical, yet limited. For decades, California CRNAs have independently provided safe, cost-effective, and patient-centered anesthesia care—a policy reinforced by state statute and upheld by court rulings and regulatory guidance.
Image by PeopleImagesOPINION – Most policy discussions about improving health care in California start with talking about “access” – the lower the costs, and the more people cared for…the better. But that plan only works if, alongside access, quality of care improves with it.
Image by Jacob WackerhausenProposition 35 is a vote for equity in health care because it will bridge gaps and disparities throughout the system while supporting better health outcomes for all our children.
Image by Kuzmik_AOPINION – California vaccination rates for communicable illnesses dropped during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic when our health system moved to an “emergency only” system. Today, many Californians are still behind on their routine vaccines, leaving communities across our state susceptible to contracting and spreading dangerous illnesses.
Charles R. Drew University's initial cohort of scholarship winners. Photo by Sutter Health. Sutter Health is teaming with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, or CDU, a historically black medical program in Los Angeles, to fund the largest scholarship program in the school’s history.
Image by HalfpointOPINION – Patients rely on the quality care services provided by pharmacists and pharmacies. On behalf of pharmacies and the patients for whom we provide care, I urge Governor Newsom to sign SB 966, by Senator Scott Wiener, District 11, encompassing San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County.
Image by tab62OPINION – The opioid epidemic in California is an urgent matter that requires immediate action, particularly with regards to its effects on veterans and their families. It is time for lawmakers in Sacramento to take decisive action and stand up for our veterans in their time of need. We need leaders – policymakers who will lead by example and influence – to optimize better treatment methods for our veterans and help tackle an untapped salient issue, long overdue.
Image by MMD CreativeOPINION – CHCs and primary care physicians have long served as a safety net for communities of color. For far too long, our physicians, nurses and staff have witnessed the devastating challenges our patients face to access regular care for chronic health conditions, finding specialty care doctors who accept Medi-Cal, and accessing affordable medications.
Image by uphaksorn ThongwongbootOPINION – There is a brewing crisis in Orange County, one where the most vulnerable — seniors with disabilities, single mothers, families living below the poverty line — have lost access to vital health care services. The focus for all involved right now must be on patients — those who are facing upheaval, worse health outcomes, farther distances to travel for care, and a much greater burden on their families. For these vulnerable Californians, their worst fears have come true.