Latest California Healthline Stories
Elements of House Health Care Reform Bill Echo California Efforts
The House’s health care reform legislation includes provisions reminiscent of legislation Gov. Schwarzenegger has vetoed, such as measures aimed at curbing rescissions and clamping down on insurers’ administrative costs. That said, language in the House bill aims to address concerns Schwarzenegger and other governors have raised about states’ share of the cost of proposals to expand Medicaid.
School-Based Telehealth in Line for Double-Barreled Boost
A new report detailing the potential of school-based telehealth services arrives as those services move into position for an extra boost from broadband expansion plans in the federal stimulus package and new funding in national health reform legislation.
Non-Native English Speakers Face Numerous Linguistic, Cultural Barriers to Medical Care
Mary Masland of UC-Berkeley, Rachel Mutrux of the Missouri Telehealth Network, Margaret O’Kane of NCQA and Gayle Tang of Kaiser Permanente discussed intercultural communication challenges with California Healthline.
White House Talks Up Cost-Savings Plans To Bolster Reform
Officials in the Obama administration are firing back against questions that Democratic health care reform proposals do not adequately address rising health care costs. For instance, Anthem Blue Cross of California’s parent company put out a study this month projecting that the plans would result in higher premiums.
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.
Recent Injunction Blocking In-Home Care Cuts Highlights Impact of Reducing Safety-Net Care
Melinda Bird of Disability Rights California, Laura Dunn of UC-San Francisco and Joseph Hafkenschiel of the California Association for Health Services at Home spoke with California Healthline about the recent ruling.
House Panel, HHS Look at Health Reform and Small Businesses
A House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing looked at the hurdles small businesses encounter offering health insurance benefits to workers, and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a report explaining what the administration expects health care reform proposals to do for small firms.
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.
Consumer Advocates, Health Insurers Support Reform Proposals That Boost Preventive Care
Tom Epstein of Blue Shield of California, Robert Pearl of the Permanente Medical Group and Anthony Wright of Health Access spoke with California Healthline about health care reform proposals designed to promote wellness.
California’s Senators Face Tough Calls as Health Reform Bill Advances
In recent days, Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have thrown their support behind a public option and raised questions about a proposed tax on medical device makers. Now that a health care reform bill has cleared the Senate Finance Committee, Boxer and Feinstein will be pressed to state their positions on other elements of reform legislation.