A Family Wellness Check: California Invests in Treating Parents and Children Together
By Samantha Young
The state will be the first to offer comprehensive counseling services to parents during pediatric visits as part of Medicaid.
Doctors’ Lobby Scores ‘Major Victory’ on Bill to Hold Physicians Accountable
By Samantha Young
Patients and some lawmakers have long blasted the Medical Board of California for failing to discipline negligent or abusive physicians. But the politically powerful California Medical Association, which represents doctors, has mobilized against the latest attempt to give the board more money and power to investigate complaints.
Confronting Our ‘Frailties’: California’s Assembly Leader Reflects on a Year of Covid
By Samantha Young
California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon says covid exposed long-standing health care inequities that must be addressed. He told KHN he wants to get more people insured, boost broadband access so more patients can use telehealth and increase funding to local health departments.
Medicaid Weighs Attaching Strings to Nursing Home Payments to Improve Care
By Susan Jaffe
The Biden administration is considering whether Medicaid, which pays the bills for 62% of nursing home residents, should require that most of that funding be used to provide care, rather than for maintenance, capital improvements, or profits.
California Wants to Slash Insulin Prices by Becoming a Drugmaker. Can it Succeed?
By Angela Hart
Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed spending $100 million to make insulin affordable to millions of people with diabetes under a new state generic drug label, CalRx. But state officials haven’t said how much the insulin will cost patients or how the state will deal with distribution and other challenges.
You’ve Added Your Kids to Your Health Plan. What About Mom?
By Samantha Young
A bill in the California legislature would require state-regulated health plans to cover policyholders’ dependent parents. Advocates say the measure would reduce the number of uninsured people, while business groups warn of premium increases.
Has agregado a tus hijos a tu plan de salud. ¿Y tu mamá?
By Samantha Young
Un proyecto de ley en California exigiría que los planes de salud regulados por el estado cubran a los padres dependientes de los asegurados. Según activistas, la medida reduciría el número de personas sin seguro; pero grupos empresariales advierten sobre el aumento de las primas.
Health Industry Wields Power in California’s High-Stakes Battle to Lower Health Care Costs
By Angela Hart and Samantha Young
Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to regulate out-of-control health care spending in California. The effort is being shaped by the very health industry players that would be regulated.
Another Soda Tax Bill Dies. Another Win for Big Soda.
By Samantha Young
A bill that would have allowed California cities and counties to once again pursue taxes on sugary drinks was just shelved in the legislature without a hearing. Public health advocates blame the political — and financial — clout of the soft drink industry.
