Latest California Healthline Stories
Progress Reported in State’s Handling of Nursing Home Complaints
The days of 11,000 backlogged nursing home complaints are over, according to officials at the Department of Public Health.
Millions Need To Be Alert For Medi-Cal Renewal
I spend the majority of my time (and space) writing about the new state health insurance exchange, Covered California. But the behemoth in California’s Affordable Care Act implementation is Medi-Cal, the state’s decades-old version of the federal Medicaid program, which provides publicly funded insurance to low-income residents. About 12 million Californians are in Medi-Cal now. […]
State Readies Health Home Project
California is targeting super users of Medi-Cal with a new project to reduce preventable emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
Five Years of California Health Reform: ‘A Tremendous Designed Experiment’
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law five years ago today. The anniversary takes on special significance in California, the first state to form an ACA insurance exchange, where reforms have transformed the delivery of care for one-third of the state.
If Duals Project Is Curtailed, Future Is Cloudy for Program for Frail Seniors
As part of California’s duals demonstration project, the state is phasing out the Multipurpose Senior Services Program designed for some of the frailest beneficiaries of Medicare and Medi-Cal. But that demonstration project itself could be ended prematurely.
Residency Training Slots May Evaporate
Four funding sources for training new physicians — all designed to increase the number of family practice physicians in California — are due to expire soon.
Pros, Cons of Two State Bills Dealing With Not-for-Profit Hospitals
We asked legislators, consumer advocates, hospital officials and academic experts to weigh in on two bills in the California Legislature dealing with community benefits provided by not-for-profit hospitals.
State Insurance Commissioner Calls Out Blue Shield for ‘Second Tax Dodge’
On the heels of the Franchise Tax Board’s revocation of Blue Shield of California’s tax-exempt status, the state insurance commissioner said the insurer is avoiding premium taxes to the tune of $100 million each year.
Medicare, ACA Have Faced Similar Criticism. But Is That Where the Comparison Ends?
Just like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare went through some growing pains when it started 50 years ago. Does Medicare’s origin say anything about the future of the ACA?
Frustration Boils at Denti-Cal Hearing
Lack of required reporting and little progress in Denti-Cal’s low utilization rates made for a tense and testy legislative hearing on dental coverage for five million California children yesterday in Sacramento.