Latest California Healthline Stories
Advocates Roll Out Plan for Uninsured
At an Assembly hearing yesterday, advocates floated a proposal for a state-funded program to provide health insurance for the undocumented population in California.
Exchange Spends More Than Expected on Enrollment, Retention System
The Covered California board last week approved a fiscal year 2013-2014 budget about $88 million higher than the initial $400 million spending plan for the insurance exchange, largely because the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment and Retention System cost about $112 million more than expected.
More Than One Million Latinos Enrolled In Exchange or Medi-Cal in Six Months
Of the 3.3 million Californians who signed up for the exchange or enrolled in Medi-Cal over the past six months, more than a million were Latino.
State Limits Denial of Autism Therapy
New mental health parity regulations announced this week could signal more penalties for delay or denial of autism treatment by insurers in California.
Big Campaign Spending Due in June
Both sides of the November ballot measure to regulate health insurance rate hikes expect an advertising surge will begin in June after the initiative is assigned a proposition number.
Exchange To Lay Out Benefit Designs
It may seem too early to contemplate Covered California premium rates and benefit designs for 2015, but in the bureaucratic world of health care next year is almost here. Designing next year’s coverage will be an important subject at this week’s exchange board meeting.
Odd Dynamic in Senate Bill Passage
In a role reversal of sorts in the state Legislature, a Republican legislator argued for passage of an Affordable Care Act bill for patient privacy rights while health care advocates argued for administrative efficacy.
Committee Backs Measure To Regulate Billing in Emergency Room Settings
Despite opposition from emergency physicians, the Senate health committee approved a bill this week designed to curb emergency department costs.
Panel OKs Sugary Drink Warning Label Bill
A bill seeking warning labels on soda and other sweetened beverages sold in California cleared its first hurdle yesterday, but not without opposition, portending a big fight ahead.
Committee Approves, Helps Frame Medical-Loss Ratio for Dental Insurers
A legislative committee not only voted to pass a bill requiring dental insurers to spend a specific percentage of their money on dental care, but also helped broker an agreement over the measure in a hearing.