Latest California Healthline Stories
Survey Bolsters Nurse Practitioner Bill
AARP, which has been campaigning for state legislation to expand scope of practice for nurse practitioners, is releasing a survey today that shows strong support for the proposal among older Californians.
Sacramento County Votes To Provide Health Care for Undocumented Adults
Six years after trying to eliminate the county’s indigent care program, Sacramento reversed direction and now will provide the services.
Scathing Auditor’s Report on Medi-Cal
California lawmakers need to ramp up their monitoring of the Department of Health Care Services to make sure Medi-Cal managed care patients can access care, according to a state audit released yesterday.
Budget Passage Not the Final Word
The California Legislature’s balanced budget approved by yesterday’s deadline includes funding for a number of health care-related programs, but no one is predicting it’s a done deal. Lobbying and negotiating continue.
Medi-Cal Managed Care Audit Coming
The state auditor is about to release a critique of Medi-Cal’s managed care program, including the adequacy and accuracy of its provider directories.
Health Changes Likely in State Budget
Some health care services may be restored in the new state budget being hammered out today in the California Legislature, but some may still face a gubernatorial veto.
Medi-Cal Autism Care May Be Lacking
Nearly a year after autism therapy officially became a Medi-Cal benefit, only 2% of Medi-Cal managed care children with autism are receiving one of the main treatments for the malady, according to state data.
Panel OKs Vaccine Bill; Floor Vote Next
After a long, sometimes heated debate, the Assembly health committee yesterday approved a bill to remove the personal-belief exemption from childhood vaccination requirements in California.
State Fashions New Dental Director Role
The governor’s appointment of a state director of dental care could signal a fresh approach to oral health in California and may help solve problems in Denti-Cal, California’s Medicaid dental program.
2.5 Million Californians in Deep Poverty, Many of Them Children, Analysts Say
An independent assessment shows women and children make up the largest share of Californians now living below half of the federal poverty level.