Latest California Healthline Stories
What’s Behind High Opt-Out Rate Among Dual Eligibles in L.A. County?
About one-third of the Californians who are eligible for the duals demonstration project have chosen to opt out of participation. In Los Angeles County, that rate is much higher and topped 50% at one point. Why?
Exchange, Immigration Advocates Urge Enrollment by Mixed Status Families
Many Californians eligible for Medi-Cal or Covered California — particularly in families of mixed immigration status — have been reluctant to seek coverage. Government officials and immigration advocates joined forces to assure them health application information will not be shared.
32 States Haven’t Tried To Establish an Exchange. Are They Making a Huge Mistake?
Most states are sticking with HealthCare.gov — even though there’s a chance the Supreme Court will strike down the subsidies in the federal insurance exchange next year, putting health coverage at risk for millions of their residents.
Rural Frail, Elderly Beneficiaries Being Shifted to Medicaid Managed Care Plans
A year after launching its rural expansion of Medi-Cal managed care, the state now wants to shift about 24,000 of its most frail and elderly rural beneficiaries into managed care plans.
It’s Not Easy To Check Out Of Hotel Covered California
In my previous column, I explained that you become ineligible for Covered California’s tax credits when you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare. You will owe money to the government if you keep getting the credits after your Medicare begins. So I tried to offer a simple solution: Cancel your Covered California plan. Unfortunately, in […]
Decision Time for East Bay Hospital
A last-ditch effort to save the emergency department at Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo is about to encounter a significant hurdle in a county board of supervisors’ meeting.
Choosing Niche Might Be Key to Success for Health Care Accelerators
Bay Area health care accelerators are taking a specialist approach to the challenge of surviving in a landscape bursting with new ideas for speeding up the evolution of health care delivery.
New Legislative Strategies May Emerge To Raise Medi-Cal Reimbursement Rates
Ever since the Legislature agreed to reduce Medi-Cal provider payments by 10% in 2011, lawmakers have struggled to reverse the cuts. This year, there could be a more targeted approach.
ACA: A List of Reasons for the White House To Be Thankful — and Not-So-Thankful
There were both victories and challenges for the Obama administration in 2014, as it continued to implement the Affordable Care Act. On the eve of Thanksgiving, this edition of “Road to Reform” ponders what the administration might be giving thanks for in 2014 — as well as some developments it might not be so grateful for.
Study Shows Need for Payment Reform, According to California Physicians Group
New research from UC-Berkeley shows costs per patient among hospital-owned physicians groups are higher than in groups owned by physicians themselves.