Newsom on Monday signed Assembly Bill 1359, which allows older residents to request a lifelong exemption from jury service simply by certifying that they have a disability preventing them from serving. No additional medical paperwork will be required. Seniors who still want to serve on juries will retain the option to do so.

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, D-Cupertino, said he was inspired to introduce the legislation after a constituent, former Santa Clara County Supervisor Dianne McKenna, described the trouble she went through helping her elderly husband secure a jury duty exemption.

“Senior jurors are excellent jurists who can and will continue to serve if they are willing and able,” Ahrens said in a written statement. “But if they aren’t able to, they will no longer have to navigate a maze of paperwork just to opt out permanently.”

Unlike some other states, California has not had a blanket minimum age for jury duty exemptions. Florida sets that threshold at 70, while Texas sets it at 75.

Under California’s previous rules, residents 70 and older could seek a medical exemption without a doctor’s certification, but they still had to notify their local jury office in writing each time they were summoned, explaining why they were unable to serve. That meant the exemption applied only once — forcing seniors to repeat the process every time their name came up again for jury selection.

Supporters of the new law argue that having to repeatedly request an exemption places an unnecessary burden on older adults, particularly those dealing with mobility issues, chronic illness or limited access to computers and the internet. According to a 2025 report from the Public Policy Institute of California, roughly one-third of adults over 80 struggle to remain at home without assistance, and about one in five faces limitations with basic self-care.

Advocates say the change could be especially helpful for people living with Alzheimer’s disease who lack a caregiver to assist them with the exemption process. Andrew Mendoza, director of state government affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association, testified in support of the bill during a legislative hearing in June.

“This bill can help vulnerable populations avoid what would otherwise be a stressful process of gathering documents and explaining their disability status during a time of significant personal change,” Mendoza said.

Original source: CalMatters

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Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, seniors in this age group will be allowed to request a permanent exemption from jury service due to a medical condition, without having to provide a note from a doctor. The measure, Assembly Bill 1359, simply requires older adults to attest that a health impairment prevents them from serving. Those who still wish to participate in jury duty will remain free to do so.

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, a Cupertino Democrat, said the idea grew out of a conversation with a constituent, former Santa Clara County Supervisor Dianne McKenna, who described the difficulty she faced trying to secure a jury exemption for her elderly husband.

“Seniors are great jurors who can and will continue to serve if they’re willing and able to,” Ahrens said in a statement. “But if they cannot, they will no longer have to jump through hoops to permanently opt out.”

California has traditionally taken a more flexible approach to age-related jury exemptions than some other states. Florida, for example, allows residents 70 and older to opt out entirely, while Texas sets the threshold at 75. California has no blanket age cutoff, though residents 70 and older can already be excused for medical reasons without a doctor’s note. The catch is that current law requires them to file that request every single time they’re summoned — a process advocates say can be exhausting for older residents, especially those managing chronic illness, limited mobility or lack of internet access.

According to a 2025 report from the Public Policy Institute of California, about a third of adults over 80 have difficulty living independently without some form of assistance, and roughly one in five experience limitations with basic self-care. Supporters of the new law say those realities make repeated jury summons unnecessarily burdensome for many elderly Californians.

The change is expected to be particularly helpful for people living with Alzheimer’s disease who lack a caregiver to help them navigate the paperwork, said Andrew Mendoza, director of state affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association, during a legislative hearing in June.

“This bill can assist vulnerable populations avoid what would otherwise be a stressful process to obtain documents and explain their condition as a disability during a time of great circumstantial change,” Mendoza said.

The law takes effect in just over two years, giving county court systems time to update their procedures for handling exemption requests from older residents across the state.

Original source: CalMatters

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Under a corrective action plan issued by the California Department of Health Care Services, Health Net must now continue covering assisted living and home care services for all affected members through the end of the year, rather than cutting off some as early as October as originally planned.

Health Net, one of the nation’s largest Medicaid insurers, informed providers months ago that it intended to drop its assisted living and home care contracts. Because those services are optional benefits under Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, insurers can choose annually whether to keep offering them. But providers and families say they received little advance notice, leaving many uncertain about how to secure alternative housing or care for loved ones.

In an August letter to Health Net, state regulators outlined eight separate violations in how the company managed the transition, including failing to submit individual transition plans for members, neglecting to move patients into appropriate alternative care, and denying services outright to some enrollees. The department warned that these lapses “jeopardize member safety, disrupt continuity of care, and endanger medically vulnerable members.”

The state has threatened fines of up to $25,000 per member, per day of violation, if Health Net fails to extend coverage and develop transition plans tailored to each patient’s needs.

Advocacy groups and care providers estimate roughly 3,500 Medi-Cal enrollees depend on Health Net to help cover the cost of assisted living. Most are elderly, and a significant number live with cognitive conditions such as dementia. Health Net administers Medi-Cal coverage across 10 counties, including Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare, among others.

Health Net spokesperson Beatriz Lopez confirmed the company will maintain coverage for all affected members through December but still intends to eliminate the benefit altogether starting next year. “Health Net and DHCS share a commitment to advancing the health and well-being of Medi-Cal members,” Lopez said in a statement.

The insurer has previously argued that the assisted living benefit hasn’t demonstrably reduced emergency room visits or hospital stays among enrollees. The program falls under CalAIM, a sweeping state effort to modernize Medi-Cal and curb costs by better managing care for patients who frequently rely on emergency services. Lopez said the company will continue reviewing outcome data to determine which services provide the most value to members.

Providers reached by CalMatters confirmed their contracts with Health Net have now been extended through the close of the year.

Despite the reprieve, advocates warn the underlying problem remains unresolved. Hagar Dickman, director of long-term services and supports at Justice in Aging, said the state’s intervention only delays a looming crisis. “Thousands of older Californians are still set to lose their housing on January 1st,” she said.

Dickman noted that allowing insurers to eliminate housing-related benefits creates a particularly dangerous situation, since most assisted living residents have no other place to live. She also pointed out that state continuity-of-care protections may not apply if a member switches to a different insurer that still covers assisted living — meaning the new plan could simply refuse to pay for that member’s care.

“It’s disingenuous to say there are protections and then say the protections don’t apply,” Dickman said. “So the option is skilled nursing or homelessness.”

Pauline Shatara, deputy director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, echoed those concerns, saying the state’s corrective measures fall short of a real fix. “It doesn’t sound like we found a solution to help pay for these people to remain where they are,” she said.

Original source: CalMatters

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For Matt Johnstone, the news arrived a month ago in a phone call from the North Hollywood board-and-care facility where his 89-year-old father has lived. Health Net, which has been covering the cost of his father’s care, told the facility it was dropping the benefit — meaning residents like Johnstone’s father would soon need to find somewhere else to go.

His father has dementia and requires constant supervision. Johnstone and his brother can’t afford the roughly $6,000 a month the facility charges, nor can they safely care for their father themselves. Without the Medi-Cal benefit, Johnstone fears his father could wind up homeless.

“He’s declining, and I just don’t know what’s going to happen if the program ends,” said Johnstone, whose father’s name is being withheld at his request out of concern that speaking publicly could affect his care.

According to documents reviewed by CalMatters and interviews with care providers, Health Net plans to eliminate assisted living coverage for an estimated 3,500 Medi-Cal members by year’s end. Most affected residents are elderly, and many suffer from dementia or other cognitive conditions, according to senior advocacy organizations. Two smaller plans that contract with Health Net — CalViva Health and the Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley — have also told the state they intend to end the benefit.

The decision has left families and providers scrambling for information, with many describing a chaotic rollout marked by conflicting messages and a lack of formal notice. Advocates worry that without a clear transition plan, some residents could end up bouncing between hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or, in the worst cases, onto the street.

Fears of a “disaster”

Pauline Shatara, deputy director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, said her organization has already heard from assisted living operators who say residents have been dropped off at hospital emergency rooms with nowhere else to go.

“This is going to be a disaster,” Shatara said.

The assisted living benefit is optional under Medi-Cal, giving health plans the choice each year whether to keep offering it. It’s part of CalAIM, the state’s initiative to modernize Medi-Cal and reduce costs by better serving high-need patients who often cycle through emergency rooms. The benefit covers most of the round-the-clock care costs at memory care homes, board-and-care facilities and similar settings, while residents pay for room and board out of pocket.

By comparison, a nursing home — which provides a higher level of medical care — can cost more than $10,000 a month, while assisted living generally runs between $5,000 and $7,000. The Medi-Cal benefit was created partly to ease pressure on a separate, state-run assisted living program that has an 18,000-person cap and a waitlist stretching three to four years.

Health Net operates Medi-Cal managed care plans across 10 counties, including Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento and Tulare. In a written statement, a company spokesperson pushed back on the idea that members would be left without care or become homeless, saying affected patients will continue receiving services through their current authorization period and will be evaluated for alternatives such as nursing home placement, in-home supportive services, or other available programs.

“We are working closely with members, providers and care management teams to develop individualized transition plans based on each member’s clinical needs and eligibility for other available programs and services,” the statement read.

The company also said its internal data shows the assisted living benefit hasn’t reduced emergency room visits or hospital stays among members who use it.

In a termination notice filed with the state Department of Health Care Services, Health Net said the decision was driven partly by a rise in patients moving into assisted living directly from their homes, rather than from nursing facilities — a trend the company says increases costs rather than generating savings. The insurer also faulted state regulators for revising program rules in a way that limited the company’s ability to restrict such transitions.

“The guidance raises concerns regarding program integrity and long-term viability,” the notice states.

The Department of Health Care Services declined an interview request. In an email, the agency said it would work with Health Net “to ensure member protections and continuity of care.”

This isn’t the first time Health Net has scaled back a CalAIM-related benefit. Last year, the insurer ended a similar arrangement with a Los Angeles County provider of temporary medical housing, displacing hundreds of patients.

“Their position is it’s less costly to offer no services than some services,” said Hagar Dickman, director of long-term services and supports for Justice in Aging.

Confusion reigns among families

When Johnstone first learned of the change, he checked Health Net’s website for details. He found nothing. Calling customer service didn’t help either.

“When I called into Health Net customer service, they didn’t even know what the program is,” Johnstone said. He said he has yet to receive any official notice about the termination.

Jennifer Horcasitas-Glenn had a similar experience. Her mother-in-law, 75-year-old Jacqueline Glenn, has dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Horcasitas-Glenn and her husband cared for her at home for nine years before a series of hospitalizations made that impossible. Glenn has lived in a memory care facility since May.

Horcasitas-Glenn said she also learned about the benefit’s termination from a third-party provider rather than from Health Net directly. She said she spent days being transferred between representatives who had never heard of the program, eventually reaching a Health Net social worker who confirmed the change but had no further details.

“I told her I have a plethora of questions I need answered. She said, ‘I think you should forward all of your questions to this email,'” Horcasitas-Glenn recalled. She says she still hasn’t gotten a response.

Providers told CalMatters that Health Net notified some major contractors that services would end Oct. 7. But according to families and advocates, individual Medi-Cal enrollees have not received formal notice from the insurer.

Much of the confusion centers on timing. While many provider contracts expire in October, Health Net is required to continue services through the end of the year, Dickman said.

“The question is, what’s Health Net going to do after October 7? They don’t have contracts with these facilities, so how are they going to provide?” said Jonathan Istrin, chairman of Libertana, a company whose contract with Health Net was terminated. Libertana subcontracts with hundreds of assisted living facilities statewide, and Istrin said Health Net lacks the systems needed to pay those facilities directly.

Under state rules, Health Net must give members 30 days’ notice before ending services. But providers say it remains unclear whether those notices will go out in late September or early December — and Shatara warned that for some residents, the notice could arrive only after they’ve already been forced out.

“Right now it can feel like a rumor mill, and nobody knows what they should do because Health Net has not been giving anyone any information,” she said.

On Aug. 10, Horcasitas-Glenn received a letter from Health Net stating that her mother-in-law’s approval for memory care would be revoked a month early “at the request of the provider.” But the facility told her it had made no such request — instead, it had asked Health Net how to ensure patients received the care they were entitled to through year’s end. CalMatters independently verified this account.

“This is baloney. They’re not being transparent about anything, and they’re lying on documents,” Horcasitas-Glenn said. She added that Health Net customer service representatives still don’t recognize the program when she calls.

State officials say Medi-Cal members are entitled to continued assisted living services through Dec. 31, as long as the care remains “clinically appropriate,” and that members whose authorizations expire sooner should request an extension.

Few safeguards in place

Beyond the 30-day notice requirement, advocates say the state has done little to ensure members aren’t left without care once the benefit ends.

Health Net has not provided individualized transition plans for most patients, Shatara said, and the state cannot guarantee that displaced residents will find comparable care elsewhere. Advocates and providers say both Health Net and the Department of Health Care Services have repeatedly pointed to each other when asked for specifics.

In its statement, the department said existing consumer protections — including the right to appeal, file grievances, and access continuity-of-care provisions — are sufficient, adding that “Medi-Cal members have strong protections.” The agency maintains that responsibility for managing the transition ultimately rests with Health Net.

The insurer’s termination notice states that affected members “will be transitioned to alternative care settings, including home, as appropriate.”

But Shatara said returning home isn’t realistic for most patients. Many live on fixed Social Security incomes and gave up their previous residences to afford assisted living costs that Medi-Cal doesn’t otherwise cover. Their care needs are often too complex for family members to manage. That leaves nursing homes and hospitals as the only other options — facilities that may not have room to absorb a sudden influx of new patients.

“It’s inevitable that people will end up in ERs and on the streets,” Shatara said.

Some families are exploring whether switching to a different Medi-Cal plan might preserve access to the benefit, but Horcasitas-Glenn said she’s been told other insurers are reluctant to approve costly long-term placements for new members. Others, like Johnstone, say they simply don’t know where to turn.

Johnstone’s father spent much of his life restoring motorcycles and racecars, eventually building a successful autobody shop in Southern California. As undiagnosed dementia set in during his later years, Johnstone said, his father’s mind began slipping into decades-old memories, leading him to make costly business mistakes and take on debts he could no longer manage. A terminal cancer diagnosis for Johnstone’s mother further drained what savings the family had left.

“There is nothing else,” Johnstone said.

Original source: CalMatters

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Officials ordered or urged tens of thousands of Orange County residents to evacuate after a leak involving methyl methacrylate at GKN Aerospace. The chemical, used in plastics and resins, is flammable and can cause health effects including breathing problems, nausea, nosebleeds, skin irritation and, in serious cases, hospitalization.

State officials declared an emergency, and about 50,000 people were told to follow evacuation directions. Public agencies announced shelters, care centers and hotlines for residents seeking help.

But disability advocates say those resources do not necessarily amount to a workable evacuation plan for people who cannot simply get into a car, drive away and sleep in a public shelter.

For a bedbound senior who depends on a caregiver, leaving home may require medical transport and continuous personal care. A resident who uses a power wheelchair may not be able to ride in a standard vehicle. Hospice patients, people who rely on oxygen, those needing dialysis, wound care or hospital beds, and residents with complex medical conditions may not be safe in a crowded gymnasium or community shelter.

Kelley Barrett, a retired nonprofit administrator who advocates for people with disabilities, said the Garden Grove incident exposed a persistent gap in emergency planning: public notices often tell residents where to go, but do not clearly explain how people with serious care needs will be identified, contacted, transported and housed safely.

Standard shelters may be suitable for evacuees who can walk, manage their own medication, use public restrooms, tolerate crowds and sleep on a cot. They are far less practical for residents who need caregivers, medical equipment, accessible bathrooms, wheelchair charging, oxygen support or medically appropriate placement.

Advocates are calling for counties to maintain active “access and functional needs” evacuation systems that go beyond written plans or website postings. Such systems, they argue, should include coordination with In-Home Supportive Services, Adult Protective Services, hospice providers, home health agencies, senior housing sites, regional centers and medical baseline programs.

They also say evacuation operations should include accessible transportation, medical transport, caregiver access, medication support, language access and shelters equipped for people with disabilities or significant health needs.

The Garden Grove emergency also has prompted calls for more transparency after major evacuations. Advocates say counties should report how many in-home care recipients, hospice patients, home health patients and oxygen-dependent residents were in evacuation zones; how many lacked transportation; how many were contacted directly; and where medically fragile residents were ultimately taken.

Those destinations could include accessible shelters, medical shelters, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hotels or relatives’ homes. Without public reporting, advocates say, it is difficult to know whether vulnerable residents were safely assisted or left to make their own arrangements.

The concerns are not aimed at firefighters, police officers or emergency workers, who often respond under dangerous conditions. Rather, advocates say the issue is whether emergency systems are built to include people who cannot self-evacuate.

California has emphasized aging in place, disability rights and health equity, but emergency planning must reflect those commitments, advocates say. When officials tell the public to leave, they argue, there must also be a clear plan for those who cannot leave without help.

The Garden Grove chemical emergency has therefore become about more than the contents of a leaking tank. It has also become a test of whether disaster planning in Southern California protects residents who are elderly, disabled, homebound or medically fragile.

Original source: CalMatters

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The California Department of Aging is revising its intrastate funding formula, the method used to divide state and federal aging dollars among local agencies. The state’s goal is to better align funding with need and improve equity across regions.

But Los Angeles County aging officials warn that the proposed formula could have serious consequences in large, high-demand communities. Maral Karaccusian, director of the Los Angeles County Aging and Disabilities Department, said the plan does not fully account for the scale and complexity of serving older adults in the state’s most populous county.

Across Los Angeles County, thousands of seniors rely on publicly funded meals each day. Some receive food delivered to their homes, while others gather for meals at senior centers and community sites. For many older adults, those programs provide more than nutrition; they also offer regular contact with others and a way to remain safely at home.

According to projections cited by county officials, Los Angeles County could see a 17% reduction under the proposed funding approach. That could translate into nearly 186,000 fewer meals served annually at community locations and more than 157,000 fewer home-delivered meals each year.

Combined, the reductions would amount to roughly 1,300 fewer meals per day.

County officials say the concern is not with the state’s effort to modernize the formula, but with how the proposed model weighs different factors. The formula considers age, income, disability and geography, giving them roughly equal weight. Critics argue those factors do not drive demand for services in the same way.

Low-income older adults, for example, are more likely to rely on publicly funded meal programs and supportive services. Dense urban counties also operate at a different scale than smaller regions, serving larger numbers of seniors with complex needs.

Los Angeles County serves about one-quarter of California’s older adults, including large numbers of low-income seniors and those requiring more intensive support. Officials also point to growth in the county’s aging population, noting that Los Angeles County added more than 92,000 older adults in a single year.

If the formula does not adequately reflect those realities, they argue, money could shift away from areas with the greatest demand. Other large regions with significant senior populations could face similar pressure.

Advocates say the state should test alternative versions of the formula before making a final decision, to ensure the system reflects actual service needs and does not unintentionally reduce access to food and care.

California has made aging in place and independent living major policy goals in recent years. Local officials say those commitments depend on funding systems that work not only in statewide calculations, but also in the communities where seniors rely on daily services.

Original source: CalMatters

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For years, advocates say the Social Security Administration has struggled to keep up with its growing workload. Its current staffing is already at a 50-year low, but President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk have set their sights on cuts: The agency plans to cut 7,000 jobs and close 47 offices, NPR reported.

That includes a planned 50% reduction in its tech team at a time when the agency’s long-glitchy technology is having more issues than usual, CNN reported.

To access their accounts online, many people are now being required to verify their identity using selfies or by traveling to a field office. Phone verification is not longer allowed, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

That can present a challenge to seniors with mobility issues and those who might struggle with the required technological knowledge.

If you plan to visit a Social Security office in person, make sure you make an appointment over the phone first: Walk-ins are not allowed, according to the agency’s website.

One San Francisco Chronicle reader said he’s “given up” trying to access his account online after unsuccessful attempts trying to verify his identity using photos, videos, his driver’s license and other personal information.

The agency’s website was also completely down for several hours this week, CNN reported.

Others have faced astronomical wait times on the phone.

“My first phone call that I made to Social Security, I was on hold for 3 hours and 15 minutes before I spoke to somebody,” Aaron Woods, who’s been trying for months to help his mother sort out her Social Security and Medicare benefits, told NPR.

Another Chronicle reader was quoted a wait time of 100 hours on the phone.

AARP has pushed back against the identity verification change.

“The Social Security Administration’s move to force people to visit offices in-person for services that they have sought by phone will result in more headaches and longer wait times to resolve routine customer service needs,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer said in a statement.

The Chronicle offered the following tips: Those who have frozen their credit may need to temporarily unfreeze their Experian accounts in order to compete the Social Security identity verification process.

Some people have had issues using certain web browsers that send them on endless redirect loops. Microsoft Edge or an incognito window on Google Chrome may alleviate the issue.

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“Everyone deserves the opportunity to live at home, in their communities, and with their loved ones,” said Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This funding will bring dignity and peace of mind to even more seniors and people with disabilities across the country. We will continue expanding these programs to ensure all Americans have equitable access to the high-quality health care they deserve—no matter where they live.” 

“Our health care system works best when it meets us where we are and helps us get to where we want to be,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “With this new funding opportunity, we’re expanding a program with a proven track record of helping seniors and people with disabilities transition safely from institutional care to their own homes and communities. Letting ‘money follow the person’ is key to those successes, and to the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to affordable, accessible, person-centered care.” 

HCBS is a critical component of the Medicaid program and the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to help older adults and individuals with disabilities live safely and independently in their homes and communities. The MFP program has been a critical tool, now with the potential to do more in a broader array of states and territories thanks to this latest NOFO. 

To help additional states and territories implement MFP, these awards will support the early planning phase to get an MFP program off the ground. This includes:

• Establishing partnerships with community stakeholders, including those representing diverse and underserved populations, Tribal entities and governments, key state and local agencies (such as state and local public housing authorities), and community-based organizations;
• Conducting system assessments to better understand how HCBS support local residents;
• Developing programs for the types of community transitions MFP supports;
• Establishing or enhancing Medicaid HCBS quality improvement programs;
• Recruiting HCBS providers as well as expert providers for transition coordination and technical assistance; and
• Conducting a range of planning activities deemed necessary by the award recipients and approved by CMS.

State Medicaid agencies not currently participating in the MFP demonstration may apply through the NOFO no later than May 31, 2022. To access the NOFO, visit Grants.gov or here https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=334196

For states already participating in MFP, CMS also announced that the agency is increasing the reimbursement rate for MFP “supplemental services.” These services will now be 100% federally funded with no state share. Further, CMS is expanding the definition of supplemental services to include additional services that can support an individual’s transition from an institution to the community, including short-term housing and food assistance. These changes will help further address critical barriers to community living for eligible individuals, as well as increase community transition rates and the effectiveness of the MFP demonstration overall. For more information on current and previous grantees, visit Medicaid.gov. CMS will provide additional information on these changes to MFP grantees.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer and its partner BioNTech asked U.S. regulators Tuesday to authorize an additional booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine for seniors, saying data from Israel suggests older adults would benefit.

Currently the U.S. urges two primary shots followed months later by a booster dose for everyone age 12 and older. The new application seeks to add a fourth shot only for the over-65 population that has been hit hardest by the pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control would have to approve the request. If so, a key question would be how soon seniors would be advised to roll up their sleeves.

While authorities say the vaccinations continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, they haven’t held up as well against milder infections especially those due to the omicron mutant. With COVID-19 cases finally plummeting after the intense omicron surge, public health experts are starting to look ahead to what next steps might be needed — if a new variant crops up or, barring that, whether to try shoring up coronavirus protection in the fall at the same time people get flu vaccinations.

Speaking to CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla signaled the company’s plans.

“The protection that you are getting from the third, it is good enough, actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths. It’s not that good against infections,” he said. “But we are just submitting those data to the FDA and then we will see what the experts also will say outside Pfizer.”

The U.S. booster campaign was based on evidence that the shots’ effectiveness, particularly against milder infections, was waning about six months after the last dose. Calls for a third shot grew once it became clear the vaccines weren’t as strong against the omicron mutant as they were against earlier versions of the virus.

Many scientists say the ultimate goal of vaccination is to prevent severe illness, not mild infections, and early CDC data show the shots still are doing a good job at that. During the omicron wave, effectiveness against hospitalization was 91% in people who had gotten their booster two months earlier, and 78% by the fourth month after that booster.

Pfizer based its new application on data from Israel, which already was offering a second booster to people age 60 and older and health care workers.

While some early data left unclear just how much benefit another shot offered — or for how long — Pfizer said Tuesday that an analysis of health records of more than 1.1 million Israeli seniors showed confirmed infections were two times lower and rates of severe illness were four times lower among those who got two boosters instead of just one.

Pfizer also cited an ongoing study of healthcare workers that tracked a jump in virus-fighting antibodies after getting the additional booster.

In the U.S. so far, a fourth dose is recommended only for people with severely weakened immune systems, who need three doses to begin with for the best chance at any protection.

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Hernan Quintas | Contributed

This week, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) called on the Department of Health and Human Services to guarantee at-home COVID-19 test kits to Medicare beneficiaries at no cost. Ruiz joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging Secretary Xavier Becerra to include Medicare coverage for the tests following a directive from the Biden Administration that requires insurance companies and group health plans to cover over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

“In order to protect people with Medicare from the ongoing COVID-19 variants, we urge the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have sustained access to at-home COVID-19 testing at no cost through the Medicare program,” Dr. Ruiz and the lawmakers wrote. “We encourage the Department to consider options such as additional clinics in rural, suburban, and other underserved areas with less accessible existing testing options, a telephone hotline to order free at-home tests to complement the website the administration created, and support for locally led efforts to provide at-home testing to Medicare beneficiaries at no cost.”

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