Kristen Hwang is a health reporter for CalMatters covering health care access, abortion and reproductive health, workforce issues, drug costs and emerging public health matters. Her series on soaring rates of maternal and congenital syphilis won a first place award from the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her recent work has also been recognized by the Sacramento Press Club and Asian American Journalism Association.
Prior to joining CalMatters, Kristen earned a master’s degree in journalism from UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism and a master of public health degree from Berkeley’s School of Public Health. Her graduate student research focused on water quality in the Central Valley and uncovered chemicals related to fracking in drinking water wells. During the pandemic, she joined a team of graduate student journalists contributing to the New York Times COVID-19 data tracker and West Coast coverage. While at Berkeley, Kristen also directed and produced “When They’re Gone,” a short documentary on migratory beekeepers and sustainable agriculture. “When They’re Gone” won the 2021 Student Academy Award and has screened at festivals around the world.
Kristen is based in the Sacramento area. She has worked as a reporter in Washington, D.C., Arizona, Alabama and California. She cut her teeth as a beat reporter at The Desert Sun in Palm Springs covering education and criminal justice. There she also worked with a team to investigate the impact of Proposition 47, a California criminal justice sentencing reform ballot measure. Kristen directed a documentary for the Prop. 47 project that won an Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
La industria de la atención médica incluyó en la boleta electoral de noviembre una medida que recaudaría más dinero para Medi-Cal e impediría que los legisladores lo gasten en servicios generales del gobierno. Hay miles de millones de dólares en juego.
The health care industry put a measure on the November ballot that would raise more money for Medi-Cal and block lawmakers from spending it on general government services. Billions of dollars are on the line.
California ha ampliado enormemente las protecciones para la atención del aborto desde que la Corte Suprema anuló Roe v. Wade. Pero hacer cumplir las leyes puede ser complicado y algunos proveedores no saben lo que se les exige.
California has greatly expanded protections for abortion care since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But enforcing the laws can be complicated, and some providers are confused about what’s required of them.
En su primer fallo sobre derechos reproductivos desde que se anuló Roe v. Wade, la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos rechazó el jueves una demanda que cuestionaba la aprobación por parte de la FDA de la píldora abortiva mifepristona.
In its first ruling on reproductive rights since overturning Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit that questioned the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.
El Hospital Comunitario Martin Luther King Jr. está perdiendo dinero, pero se ha comprometido a mantener abierta su sala de partos. Su decisión va en contra de los hospitales cercanos que se están alejando de los servicios de maternidad.
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital is losing money, but it's committed to keeping open its labor ward. Its decision runs counter to nearby hospitals that are walking away from maternity services.
Gov. Gavin Newsom contends his budget maintains core health care services for Californians. Doctors and other providers are alarmed by his proposed cut to Medi-Cal, a state insurance program used by millions.
California es ahora uno de los nueve estados con regulaciones que limitan los aumentos de los costos de atención médica. Los consumidores no necesariamente notarán los cambios, pero los partidarios dicen que marcarán la diferencia con el tiempo.