California Minimum Wage Bill for Health Care Workers Would Worsen Shortages

An empty bed in the Emergency Department at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, Calif., on March 30, 2021. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Commentary

When you get older—I’m 67—one of the things that happens is you need more health care. I’ve written hundreds of editorials and columns calling for privatizing Medicare. Never happened. Now I’m on it. I’m finding it’s quite generous. What I worry about is making sure there are enough medical professionals around in a few years as my needs increase.