Latest California Healthline Stories
State’s Rate Review Shows Fewer Dental Providers Take Medi-Cal Patients
The number of California dentists providing care through Medi-Cal has fallen by more than 14% since 2008. With the concurrent large increase in Medi-Cal dental coverage, advocates see an access issue looming.
Special Session on Health Spending Opens
The California Senate took up the task of finding new sources for $1.3 billion in health spending — including the big-ticket item, trying to replace a vanishing tax on managed care organizations — in the first hearing of the legislative special session on health care.
Brown’s Shift Ends Current Vaccine Debate
Gov. Brown’s subtle shift in position on vaccination exemptions puts an exclamation point on the end of a long and divisive chapter in the argument over immunizing California school children.
Vaccine Requirement Goes to Governor
The full Legislature has passed a bill to eliminate the personal belief exemption for school children’s immunizations. The legislation still faces one more hurdle: the governor.
Medi-Cal Mental Health Waiver Approved
Integration of physical and mental health in the Medi-Cal program got a boost from federal approval of a five-year extension of the specialty mental health services waiver.
Supreme Court Ripples in California
After yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act subsidies, health care reform advocates and experts in California talked of relief and renewed resolve.
Dental Managed Care Takes a New Tack
A California insurer has shown strong results with a new financial model for paying dental providers combining managed care and fee for service.
Bill To End Intoxicated Patient Diversion
The Assembly Committee on Health approved legislation to stop hospitals from asking police to take their severely intoxicated patients.
Emergency Transport Firms Want a Seat at Medi-Cal Rate Talks Table
A coalition of six emergency transport companies, saying Medi-Cal reimbursement covers one-sixth of the actual cost of emergency ambulance services, seeks a rate increase from the state.
Governor Calls for Special Legislative Session To Address Health Spending
With health care spending high on his list of fiscal concerns, Gov. Brown has called for a special legislative session dealing with Medi-Cal, loss of the managed care organization tax and other health spending issues.