Latest California Healthline Stories
Cost Drivers and How To Steer Them
Expensive drugs got much of the blame last week during a legislative hearing hoping to pinpoint the major cost drivers in the state’s health care system.
Health Reform Expert Peter Harbage Dies
The health policy world in California is mourning the death of a big contributor to the health care reform effort.
Disruptive Technology Main Focus at Clinton Health Matters Conference
Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and technologists weighed in on how the nation’s health care system can be improved with “disruptive technology” at the Clinton Foundation’s Fourth Annual Health Matters Activation Summit last week in Riverside County.
Boxer, Feinstein Back State Bill To End ‘Personal Belief’ Vaccine Exemptions
Both U.S. senators from California came out in strong support of ending most childhood immunization exemptions in the state, calling the issue a public health necessity.
The Measles Outbreak Is a Big Story. This One’s Bigger.
Vaccination news has dominated the headlines, but there’s a much bigger health policy story that stands to shake up the industry, experts say: Medicare’s new proposal to shift how it pays hospitals and doctors, which could ultimately transform health care’s decades-old fee-for-service system.
Dual Eligible Opt-Out Percentage High
A high percentage of dual eligibles have chosen to opt out of participating in Cal MediConnect, which may affect the viability of the Coordinated Care Initiative.
New Rules To Limit Narrow Networks
The state insurance commissioner’s narrow network regulations went into effect yesterday, setting new standards for wait times and provider availability.
Birth Center Opens in San Joaquin Valley
Birth centers are on the rise nationwide, but access is limited in parts of California. A midwife, hoping to expand birthing options in her area, has launched the only birth center in the San Joaquin Valley.
UCLA Report Shows How Some Clinics Integrate Mental Health Into Primary Care
Integrating mental health into the primary care setting can be done in a relatively straightforward way, according to UCLA researchers who studied five California clinics.
Public Policy Side of Smoking Restriction
Restricting tobacco sales is just “good public policy,” according to state Sen. Ed Hernandez, who introduced a bill yesterday to raise the legal smoking age in California.