Latest California Healthline Stories
Shorter Waits To See a Doctor Coming Soon to California
In the works since 2002, new state regulations will go into effect this fall limiting the amount of time patients have to wait to see a doctor in managed care systems.
Sen. Feinstein Spells Out Concerns on Health Care Reform
In a position paper, California’s senior senator said she would not support health care overhaul legislation that passes the costs of a Medicaid expansion onto states and counties. Meanwhile, a new survey reported that many California small businesses find health care benefits unaffordable.
California Health Officials Prepare To Combat Expected Increase in H1N1 Influenza Cases
Deborah Burger of CNA, Gil Chavez of the state public health department, Cheri Hummel of the California Hospital Association and Hilary McLean of the education department discussed H1N1 preparedness with California Healthline.
Should State Add New Hospital Fee To Increase Medi-Cal Payments?
California legislators are weighing a proposal that would impose a fee on hospitals to help draw down federal matching funds that could help the state boost Medi-Cal reimbursements. The author of the bill and an official with the California Hospital Association explain why they support it.
Officials Making Gradual Progress on Efforts To Overhaul State Health Licensing Boards
Ann Boynton of the nursing board, Julie D’Angelo Fellmeth of UC-San Diego, Charles Ornstein of ProPublica and Brian Stiger of the Consumer Affairs Department discussed licensing board reform with California Healthline.
Deficit Data Refocus Attention on Costs of Health Care, Reform
White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag said new projections about the federal budget deficit accentuate the need for health care reform this year. The data also heighten pressure for legislation to be deficit neutral.
Health Care Provisions in Federal Stimulus Come Into Focus
Six months after the arrival of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, several health care efforts detailed in the federal stimulus package are taking shape as various federal agencies take incremental steps toward new public goals.
Financing, Role of Preventive Care in Reform Still Unresolved
A new paper raises questions about Americans’ willingness to accept income tax hikes to fund expanded health insurance coverage. The research will increase pressure on lawmakers, who also are being hit with increased pressure to elevate the role of preventive care in reform legislation.
Policymakers Look to Salary-Based Physician-Payment Models To Lower Health Care Costs
Jack Chou of the California Academy of Family Physicians, Mark Hall of Wake Forest University, Robert Pearl of Kaiser Permanente and AMA President James Rohack discussed physician compensation with California Healthline.
What Will Post-Budget Health Care Look Like in California?
Health care programs have seen major cuts in state funding in recent months, prompting some stakeholders to worry that the reductions are undermining California’s health care safety net. Representatives of three organizations share their thoughts on the matter.