Latest California Healthline Stories
Is California Ripe for Global Payment, ACOs?
Reworking the health care payment system has been a key aspect of health care reform proposals in Congress. A major Massachusetts insurer has pushed ahead and adopted a global payment system, raising questions about whether California is ready to make a similar move toward global payments and accountable care organizations.
What Will New Timely Access Rules Mean for California?
Department of Managed Health Care Director Cindy Ehnes joins health care advocates and representatives of the insurance industry and physician lobby in debating the implications of rules that will cap wait times for medical services for HMO members.
Health Centers Play Bigger Role in California Health Care
Federally qualified health centers are seeing more patients in California, providing a new career alternative for family physicians and new options for county governments struggling to fulfill their obligation to care for the state’s indigent population.
Shorter Waits To See a Doctor Coming Soon to California
In the works since 2002, new state regulations will go into effect this fall limiting the amount of time patients have to wait to see a doctor in managed care systems.
What Will Post-Budget Health Care Look Like in California?
Health care programs have seen major cuts in state funding in recent months, prompting some stakeholders to worry that the reductions are undermining California’s health care safety net. Representatives of three organizations share their thoughts on the matter.
Reducing Safety Net Bad Fiscal, Moral Choice, Advocates Say
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s plan to eliminate primary care programs for migrant workers and other low-income Californians along with plans to eliminate adult day health care programs for frail seniors may save money now but health advocates say the cuts will cost the state in the long run.
Should Cash-Strapped California Support New Med Schools?
California Medical Association President Dev GnanaDev, Phyllis Guze of UC-Riverside and John Stobo of the University of California share their thoughts on the implications of cutting state funding for UC professional schools, including medical schools.
Stimulus Helps Clinics, Colleges Hire and Train Allied Health Workers
California schools that train allied health workers and the clinics and hospitals that hire them will benefit from federal transfusions that will help schools expand training and clinics weather cutbacks in state funding at the same time they’re seeing patient loads increase.
California Lawmakers Clear the Way for Stimulus Money
Rapid action on bills dealing with Medi-Cal and COBRA funding set the stage for part of the federal stimulus money to begin flowing into California. The third and perhaps biggest flow of health care-related funds — for health information technology — will take longer and could be thornier.
California Medical Residency Program Fights CMS for Funding
Stanislaus County officials and statewide doctors groups are yelling “Foul” after CMS cut off funding for a family practice residency program in the San Joaquin Valley. CMS officials say they’re obeying the law.