Author Archives: Kristen Hwang, CalMatters

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.

A beige building with red awnings displays a sign reading “Planned Parenthood Mar Monte,” surrounded by trimmed green bushes under a clear blue sky.

Health

California gives Planned Parenthood $140 million boost to keep clinics open

by Kristen Hwang, CalMatters October 29, 2025March 18, 2026

An injection of public funding means the nonprofit organization can keep reproductive health clinics operating. But with more financial troubles looming, lawmakers say there’s more work to be done to protect services.

Education

Newsom signs first-in-nation law to ban ultraprocessed food in school lunches

by Kristen Hwang, CalMatters October 15, 2025October 15, 2025

California health officials will now decide which ingredients, additives, dyes, and other forms of processing don’t belong in school meals and K-12 cafeterias.

Health

Covered California health insurance will cost more in 2026. Here’s what’s behind the double-digit increase

by Kristen Hwang, CalMatters August 15, 2025August 15, 2025

Millions of consumers will feel the pinch when rates already expected to rise will jump even further. Federal subsidies, set to expire at year’s end, are partly to blame.

Health

How the GOP budget bill will affect the cost of California health insurance

by Kristen Hwang, CalMatters July 25, 2025August 2, 2025

In Mendocino County, over 4,000 residents have insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The “Big Beautiful Bill” means their bills are expected to rise by 66% a month – low-income enrollees could see 400% increases.