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Latest California Healthline Stories

Rural Hospitals’ Success Under ACA Marred by Delays, Supreme Court Ruling

Rural hospitals stand to benefit from many of the Affordable Care Act’s provisions, but some of those benefits have been delayed and others have been changed in court. How are rural hospitals faring under the health reform law so far?   

Predicting Future of Ratings in Health Care

We asked stakeholders and futurists to gaze into their crystal balls to predict how health care ratings might evolve beyond the growing but disjointed efforts of public and private groups issuing report cards on hospitals, physicians, insurers and other parts of the system.

How To Get California Kids Physically Fit

We asked stakeholders and policymakers how the state could improve the physical fitness of California’s school children. Only one-third of fifth, seventh and ninth graders passed all six sections of the state’s annual physical fitness test last year.

The Premium Conundrum: Do Smokers Get a Fair Break Under Obamacare?

Would you quit smoking if you were charged $4,000 more per year for the habit? Some analysts say that a new measure under the Affordable Care Act is overly punitive for tobacco users, while others suggest it’s an overdue approach to take toward smokers.

Creating a Culturally Competent Health Care System

Is California still leading the way toward cultural competence in health care? We asked stakeholders how California legislators, policymakers, educators and business leaders can best prepare the health care system for an increasingly diverse population.

How Should Policymakers Deal With the Fattening of California?

Obesity rates in California have more than doubled since 1990, and if current trends continue, more than half of the state’s adults will be obese by 2030, according to new research. We asked legislators and policy analysts how the state should deal with the problem.

Counties Face New, Expanded Health Care Challenges

California counties’ role in delivering health care using a patchwork of federal and state programs and funding is about to become more complex, if not more difficult, because of health care reform and budget constraints. We asked stakeholders and experts how policymakers could best navigate new waters.

Overlooked but Not Forgotten: Three Lesser-Known Reforms

The first anniversary of the federal health care law is drawing attention to its major changes. Here are three under-the-radar reforms that also will shape health care practice.