Latest California Healthline Stories
After the Big Deadline, a Push To Sign Up Individuals Who Are Still Eligible
Kelly Hardy of Children Now, Ken Jacobs of the UC-Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education, Linda Leu from the Young Invincibles, Eliza Schiffrin of the Central Family Resource Center in Oakland and Anthony Wright from Health Access California spoke with California Healthline about the renewed enrollment effort for Covered California and Medi-Cal, in the months following the end of the first open enrollment period for the exchange.
Committee Approves, Helps Frame Medical-Loss Ratio for Dental Insurers
A legislative committee not only voted to pass a bill requiring dental insurers to spend a specific percentage of their money on dental care, but also helped broker an agreement over the measure in a hearing.
More Time To Avoid The Obamacare Tax Penalty
In my last column, I warned you that March 31 was your last chance to sign up for a health plan from Covered California or the private market if you wanted to get health coverage this year. So much for that. You now have until 11:59 p.m. on April 15 to complete your application if […]
Assembly Hearing Explores Restoration of Targeted Medi-Cal Benefits
A budget hearing in the state Assembly yesterday examined the topic of restoring specific Medi-Cal budget cuts in areas ranging from adult dental to acupuncture services.
Study Claims Health Risks Near Nuclear Plant; Critics Question Study Methods
A new study blames California’s last operating nuclear power facility for increasing cancer rates among residents on the Central Coast. Health officials and the plant’s owner disputed the findings and said the study is flawed.
Duals Demonstration Project Begins
The state’s Cal MediConnect project has officially started in five of the eight demonstration counties. Health officials hope to move as many as 456,000 dual eligibles to Medi-Cal managed care plans.
‘Enormous Surge’ in Exchange Enrollees
A huge number of Californians made last-minute efforts to enroll before the close of Covered California’s first open enrollment period. More than 500,000 began the coverage process in the last week, officials said.
New Telehealth Program Aims To Increase Specialist Care in Northern California
Seeking to improve access to health care providers — especially specialists — for new enrollees under Covered California, Blue Shield of California and Adventist Health launched a telehealth initiative targeting Northern California rural communities.
Bill Aiming To Integrate Mental, Physical Health Care Wins Committee Approval
A Senate committee voted unanimously yesterday to change California’s regulations that prevent billing for mental and physical health care treatments on the same day in rural areas.
1M Cancellations, 1.2M Enrollments: How Many Californians Really Signed Up?
Obamacare’s first open enrollment period has ended, and Covered California reported impressive numbers: A staggering 1.2 million sign-ups, which left the website staggering under “unprecedented” demand, too. But critics say that enrollment figures have been inflated by so many plan cancellations in the state.