Oakland health brief: Highland Hospital layoffs paused; measles exposure alert; insurance and school vaccine updates

Highland Hospital network pauses planned layoffs

Alameda Health System, the county-run safety-net network anchored by Wilma Chan Highland Hospital in Oakland, has paused planned layoffs that had been scheduled to begin March 9. The pause came after the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to delay the reductions and form a working group to look for financial alternatives.

According to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle, the layoff plan involved nearly 250 positions and was linked to expected reductions in Medicaid funding tied to federal policy changes. The report said some employees had already been placed on administrative leave and that the system had also been considering closing outpatient behavioral health programs that serve low-income patients.

Outbreak watch: measles exposure alert in the Bay Area

Bay Area health officials are investigating a measles case in a vaccinated adult who recently traveled internationally and later tested positive. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the person visited a Panda Express in Burlingame on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 while infectious, prompting efforts by county and state public health officials to identify and notify people who may have been exposed.

Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air. Public health messaging around exposure events typically emphasizes following official guidance and contacting a healthcare provider before arriving for evaluation.

Schools and vaccines: Oakland Unified listed in funding penalties

Separate Chronicle reporting found that California audits of schools led to financial penalties when vaccination documentation requirements were not met. The report said Oakland Unified was among districts that lost attendance-based state funds, citing a loss of $155,347 tied to vaccination compliance findings. Districts cited in the story were required to implement corrective plans to avoid future penalties.

Health insurance: Covered California closes 2026 open enrollment

Covered California said its 2026 open-enrollment period ended with 1,927,371 total plan selections, including nearly 1.7 million renewals and 235,055 new plan selections. In a Feb. 26 update, the marketplace said the expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits affected enrollment patterns, while state subsidies helped keep some lower-income renewals steady. Covered California also reported that about 20% of its enrollees live in the Greater Bay Area.

People who missed open enrollment may still qualify for special enrollment after certain life events, such as losing other coverage.

Sources

https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/alameda-health-system-layoffs-delayed-21953564.php
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/measles-case-santa-clara-county-21945497.php
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/california-schools-vaccine-funding-21946118.php
https://www.coveredca.com/newsroom/news-releases/2026/02/26/as-enhanced-federal-subsidies-expire-covered-california-ends-open-enrollment-with-state-subsidies-keeping-renewals-steady-for-now-and-new-signups-down/

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.