Latest California Healthline Stories
New Payment Method May Help Curb Costs, Improve Care
Payment bundling, an important part of national health care reform, is likely to be an integral part of California’s effort to revamp its health care system. The new tool has the potential to deliver lower costs, more efficient reimbursement and better patient outcomes.
Prevention, Wellness Provisions of Health Care Reform Law Could Have Big Long-Term Impact
John Seffrin of the American Cancer Society, Steve Wojcik of the National Business Group on Health and Daniel Zingale of the California Endowment spoke with California Healthline about a shift in emphasis in the health reform law.
Health Care Advocates Warn of ‘Dark Times’ for Latinos
Economic woes in California and across the nation make for a dim outlook for health care efforts for at least the next year, according to health care advocates in California. Recent research indicates that Latinos are at heightened risk of diabetes and face obstacles to care.
Effort Urges Seniors With Chronic Conditions To Change Habits
Sparked by a grant from the Council on Aging, a three-year Healthier Living initiative hopes to help older Californians with chronic conditions take control of their health through behavior changes.
California Residency Programs Incorporate Chronic Disease Care into Physician Training
Experts on physician training and the management of chronic illness spoke with California Healthline about efforts to encourage California’s next generation of doctors to use an innovative chronic care model.
Telemedicine Efforts Target Uninsured, Rural Hispanics
Use of telemedicine is becoming a more common way to treat chronic diseases among specific underserved populations, such as Hispanics. Two programs in the state have had early success using the technology to stave off development of more serious and costly conditions among people with diabetes.
Cost Takes Center Stage in Health Care Reform Efforts
CalPERS isn’t taking a position in California’s health care reform debate, but the giant pension fund is backing efforts to control health care cost increases. Other groups agree that costs are a problem but instead are pushing for a complete overhaul of the way Californians get health care.
Pay Attention to Prevention: A Message That People Don’t Hear
New statistics show that Medicare beneficiaries are not using the preventive care benefits that the program covers. Health care advocates assert that the situation could contribute to more serious illnesses developing later, pushing Medicare officials to plan wider outreach efforts.
Pay for Performance a Factor in Medicare Reform
California HMOs have adopted pay-for-performance programs at a higher rate than the national average, and other states are encouraging CMS to adopt the programs, which some see as a way of addressing the sustainability of Medicare and Medicaid.
Health Care Reform a Priority for 2007
Gov. Schwarzenegger plans to announce a health care reform proposal in his January 2007 State of the State address, and at least two other legislative proposals on health care reform will be introduced.