Latest California Healthline Stories
We asked stakeholders and consumer advocates to weigh in on a recurring debate in the California Legislature regarding regulating “step therapy,” a practice designed to minimize costs and risks of prescription drugs.
Should Calif. Set Charity Minimum for Not-for-Profit Hospitals?
We asked legislators, stakeholders and consumer advocates to weigh in on a bill before the state Legislature calling for the state to establish a minimum amount of charity care for private, tax-exempt not-for-profit hospitals.
Designing a New Tier of Dental Professional in California
The California Legislature this month will consider a bill that could set the stage for a new tier of oral health care provider — people less educated than dentists but with enough training to perform some dental procedures. We asked stakeholders and experts how the state should proceed.
How Should California Deal With Obesity?
Battle lines against obesity are being drawn in several arenas — from a proposed tax on sugary drinks in a Northern California city to a new national Walt Disney Company policy against accepting junk-food advertising. We asked experts what California should do.
Pre-Reform Pressures Mount for California Hospitals
California hospitals, already under significant financial pressure in 2012, may have to contend with two proposed state ballot initiatives that would increase charity care provisions for some hospitals and limit what hospitals can charge patients. We asked stakeholders to weigh in on the initiatives.
How Can California Make Most of Telehealth Law?
With a new law in the books this fall — the California Telehealth Advancement Act — California is poised to move audio-visual technology into the medical mainstream. We asked experts what California policymakers and health care providers can do to make the transition proceed smoothly and effectively.
Payment Plan for Nursing Homes Raises Concerns
California plans to link $40 million in Medi-Cal rate increases to a new pay-for-performance system in nursing homes, and the governor recently signed into law a reauthorization of minimum staffing levels. We invited stakeholders to share opinions on how those changes might affect care quality.
Should Hospital Charges Be More Transparent?
A couple of recent efforts to increase pricing transparency in California hospitals have stalled. We asked stakeholders whether the public should have more access to hospital prices.
Improving California’s Approach to Chronic Conditions
The arrival of national health reform offers opportunities to improve the way California’s health care system deals with chronic conditions. We asked stakeholders how policymakers, legislators, health care providers and insurers could best take advantage of these opportunities.
California Hospital Seismic Safety Rules Center Stage Again
Recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile have called into question California’s own preparedness for a major quake. Hospitals’ compliance with state seismic safety rules are of particular concern.