Latest California Healthline Stories
Public Health Department Lifts Vendor Moratorium for WIC Food Program
Rising food costs became a major concern in the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, so state officials cut back on the number of stores participating in an effort to better control costs. Now they’re slowly bringing some grocery vendors back into the program.
Exchange Plans Ad, Outreach Campaign
The second open enrollment period for Covered California is two months away and exchange officials want to make sure people in California know about it — to the tune of $94 million.
New Enrollment Numbers Temper Fears of Individual Insurance Market Crash
When the Affordable Care Act first rolled out, about one million Californians had their health coverage canceled because their policies didn’t meet federal standards. New enrollment numbers show the market has rebounded — and then some.
Douglas Lauded as ‘Inspired Leader’ After Announcing DHCS Retirement
The surprise resignation of Toby Douglas as director of the Department of Health Care Services will leave a big hole in the department, according to state officials.
Douglas Resigns as DHCS Director
After three controversy-filled years as director of the state Department of Health Care Services, Toby Douglas announced his resignation today.
How Jail Survey Affects Health Care
The expansion of the Medi-Cal program will be keenly felt by Californians in county jails or on probation, many of whom have not had access to coverage before. One researcher said the transitional time for inmates is a perfect opportunity to gain coverage.
L.A. County Aims To Transform Health Care With New EHR System
In an ideal world, patients’ health data would follow them when they move from one health facility to another. In Los Angeles County, that’s not possible … yet. But a grand jury report suggests the county’s new electronic health record system could become a model for other cities and counties.
Lawsuit Settlement Spells End of Insurers’ HIV Drugs-by-Mail Mandate
Patients in the United Healthcare system now may opt out of receiving medications through mail-order service if they have privacy, communication or delivery concerns.
Californians Want It. Insurers Don’t. So Why Are Top Officials Fighting Over Prop. 45?
The contentious battle over Proposition 45 — a ballot measure that would give the state government the ability to control health premium rates — has pitted California’s insurance commissioner against the state’s health plans and even Covered California.
New ACA Rules, Forms Complicate and Confuse Medi-Cal Renewal Effort
Placer County Human Services Director Cheryl Davis, Anastasia Dodson of the Department of Health Care Services, Jennifer Flory of the Western Center on Law and Poverty and Gerald Kominski of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research spoke with California Healthline about the planned renewal of eight million Medi-Cal enrollees, using new federal guidelines and a new state form that have hindered the effort.