Latest California Healthline Stories
Unions Oppose Bid by Health Care Chain
Prime Healthcare’s possible purchase of six not-for-profit hospitals in California has drawn opposition from labor unions that warn for-profit Prime may cut worker benefits and shred safety-net services. Prime officials would neither confirm nor deny negotiations are under way.
Lawmaker Calls for ‘Substantive Change in Culture’ at State Health Department
One day after a frustrating and emotionally charged hearing, the head of the Assembly health committee took a step back and said it’s time for a “culture change” at the Department of Health Care Services.
Assembly Health Committee Chair Rips DHCS for Lack of Cooperation, Poor Care
Assembly Committee on Health Chair Richard Pan chastised the state Department of Health Care Services in a hearing yesterday, saying he has been “disappointed and frustrated” in his interactions with the department over the past two years.
Sonoma Center Appeals Decertification
Sonoma Developmental Center officials filed a formal appeal with the California Department of Public Health over the state agency’s decertification of the center’s intermediate care facilities.
Public Health Information Portal Opens
The state Department of Public Health launched a new online data portal last week so that other public agencies and private innovators can create and design new applications for public use.
Legislature May Require Insurers To Track Patient Cost-Sharing
Health insurers often require patients to monitor their own out-of-pocket expenses. A bill in the state Legislature proposes to move that responsibility to insurers.
Advocates, State Officials Wrangle Over California’s Medi-Cal Renewal Backlog
Consumer advocates are asking for federal intervention to help with California’s unprocessed Medi-Cal applications. The state hopes to have the backlog reduced to about 350,000 by the end of the month.
State: Autism Therapy a Medi-Cal Benefit
State health officials announced yesterday that they plan to cover autism therapy for Medi-Cal children, with possible retroactive coverage and full implementation likely by the start of 2015.
Amputation Rate 10 Times Higher for Poor Patients, UCLA Study Finds
UCLA researchers say low-income individuals with diabetes in California are at much greater risk to have limbs amputated than wealthier people with same disease.
State Wins Duals Project Court Ruling, Medicaid Defense Fund Plans to Appeal
A California Superior Court judge ruled Friday in Sacramento that the state may continue with its duals demonstration project. Medicaid Defense Fund, which challenged the project in a lawsuit, plans to appeal.