Latest California Healthline Stories
Almost One-Third of Hospital Patients in California Have Diabetes, Study Says
The dramatic rise in diabetes translates into a $1.6 billion annual hospitalization cost in California, according to a new UCLA study.
Rate Regulation Battle Lines Drawn
Strategies are taking shape in the battle over a ballot initiative to give California officials regulatory authority over health insurance rate increases. Two days after proponents staged a rally denouncing huge cash reserves held by Kaiser Permanente, opponents released a study finding that such regulation could throw a wrench in reform efforts.
From Leaders to Laggards: Why Some States Are Giving Up on Exchanges
Several states that wanted to lead on Obamacare implementation have conceded that they failed at the crucial task of rolling out their health insurance exchanges, and they are beginning to turn operations over to the federal government.
Hospitals, Providers, Advocates Irked by What’s Left Out of Budget Revision
Some numbers may be stronger in his May budget revision, but Gov. Brown is resisting calls to restore many of the cuts made in previous bad budget years.
High-Profile Ballot Measure Hopes To Curb Health Insurance Rate Hikes
Businesswoman Marti Conger, Jamie Court of Consumer Watchdog, R. Adams Dudley of UC-San Francisco, physician Ted Mazer, Dylan Roby of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and Robin Swanson of Californians Against Higher Health Care Costs spoke with California Healthline about an expensive and controversial November ballot measure that would give enforcement power to the state Insurance Commissioner to regulate health insurance rate hikes.
Pilot Program at Oakland Hospital Cuts HIV/AIDS Readmissions Almost in Half
The medical home model has shown strong results in Alameda County’s pilot HIV/AIDS program, including a 44% decline in readmissions at Highland Hospital in Oakland.
Nurse Practitioners: ‘Wait Till Next Year’
Armed with new data — including a report last month that suggests California could save $1.8 billion by expanding nurse practitioners’ scope of practice — nurse practitioners are hoping next year they’ll prevail in a campaign to expand their authority to provide primary care services in California.
Restoring Black Infant Health Program High on List of Advocates’ Concerns
The Black Infant Health Program is one of several programs health advocates hope will see restored funding in this month’s budget revision process.
Advocates Claim Civil Rights Violations of Chronically Ill From Benefit Design
High coinsurance costs in specialty tiers are keeping lifesaving medications out of reach of consumers with some chronic illnesses, according to patient advocacy groups.
New Hepatitis C Drug Is Center Stage in Legislative Debate Over Mandates
Sovaldi, a new medication approved for public use in December 2013, has insurers worried. At $1,000 per pill, the drug is expensive but effective in treating hepatitis C. The Legislature is considering a bill to limit insurers passing along drug costs to consumers.