Center in the News

Center in the News

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Associated Press

College students, stressed about federal food aid uncertainty, look to campuses for support

AJ Scheitler, director of the Data Equity Center at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, provided important context about how college students and their academic success are affected by food insecurity.
young man looking into an empty refrigerator

ABC News

How Affordable Care Act subsidies became a sticking point in the government shutdown

Naomi Zewde, fellow at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, was quoted in this article about explaining who might be affected most by the discontinuation of the Affordable Care Act subsidies. Syndicated on Yahoo, AOL.com, and dozens of ABC news affiliates.
African American boy getting a vaccine while being with his father at pediatrician's office.

AsAmNews

Why 1000’s of Asian American seniors skip basic healthcare

Riti Shimkhada, a senior research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, explained what effects the linguistic and cultural barriers to getting health care can do to older Asian adults, including things like not getting timely appointments, nor getting access to primary care or specialty care.
New report on mental health

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Daily Bruin

Dec 02, 2025

How Californians worked to fight food insecurity amid delays in SNAP benefits

Susan Babey, director of research at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, explained the disruption of CalFresh benefits caused by the government shutdown affected access to food as well as had cascade effects for families' finances.
Features: Susan H. Babey

Sacramento Bee

Oct 17, 2025

Low-Wage California families could lose CalFresh stores under USDA proposal

Susan H. Babey, director of research at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, was quoted in a story about a proposed rule that could make it harder for low-income families to find groceries that accept CalFresh, or SNAP, benefits.

Features: Susan H. Babey

San Francisco Chronicle (paywall)

Mar 09, 2025

‘It’s like they are sending me to die’: Terminal California cancer patient fears deportation

Susan H. Babey, director of research at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, provided expertise in this article about how in response to harsher rhetoric against immigrants, there was a decrease in use of public programs due to fear of disrupting their immigration status and immigrants were more likely to delay medical care or prescription refills.
Features: Susan H. Babey

Antelope Valley Press

Sep 21, 2024

Preventable hospitalizations high

The Antelope Valley has the second highest rate in preventable hospitalizations, behind South Los Angeles, according to a UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study released earlier this year.
Features: Ninez A. Ponce, Susan H. Babey, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS)

Healthcare Finance

Jul 11, 2024

Blue Shield of California expands Wellvolution with new programs

Nearly half of California adults, including one out of every three young adults, have either prediabetes – a precursor to Type 2 diabetes – or undiagnosed diabetes, according to a [2016] study released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Features: Susan H. Babey, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS)

USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism

May 01, 2024

How Can Health Care Do Better for LGBTQ+ Patients?

A UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study about disparities in LGBTQ+ health care is cited as important reading in the promotion of an upcoming webinar about ways to improve health care for the LGBTQ+ community.
Features: Susan H. Babey, Joelle Wolstein, The California Endowment (TCE) Research Studies, LGBTQ Health

USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism

Mar 18, 2024

Undocumented immigrants of all ages can now access Medi-Cal. Will they sign up and get care?

About one in four Californians are immigrants, and half are from Latin America. Nearly 10% of California’s workforce are undocumented. Nearly three times more Hispanics/Latinx (about 12%) compared to their white peers were uninsured in California, according to a 2020 report from UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Features: Shana Charles, Susan H. Babey, Joelle Wolstein, State of Health Insurance in California (SHIC), California Health Interview Survey (CHIS)

Daily Bruin

Jun 04, 2022

UCLA-provided data reveals need to expand food assistance in California

Approximately 45% of noncitizens without legal permanent resident status experience food insecurity, according to the report.

The report also breaks down percentages of people experiencing food insecurity by age group, with 42% of noncitizens without legal permanent resident status age 50 and older, 46% of those 27 to 49 years old, 36% of those 18 to 26 years old and 64% of children under 17 being affected.

Susan Babey, a senior research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, said while it is important to address food insecurity, it is also important to remember that a lack

Features: Susan H. Babey, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), Food Insecurity

UCLA Newsroom

Jan 22, 0222

Despite overall gains in health coverage and access to care, disparities persist in California

As of 2020, more than 2.5 million Californians age 64 and under had no health insurance coverage, according to a study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

The report is based on an analysis of the center’s California Health Interview Survey from 2019 and 2020.

Features: Shana Charles, Susan H. Babey, State of Health Insurance in California (SHIC)