Latest California Healthline Stories
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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
Assembly Hearing Examines Latinos’ Unpreparedness for Long-Term Care
More than half of California’s Latino families will need long-term care in the next five years, but more than 90% of them can’t afford it, according to testimony yesterday at an Assembly committee hearing.
Exchange Swamped, Bends the Rules
Faced with a deluge of Californians trying to sign up for health insurance on the last day before penalties begin, Covered California officials bent the deadline rules to help people slip in under the wire.
Adult Day Centers Still Struggling
Fifty-one adult day health care centers in California have closed in the last three years and many more are on the verge of shutting down, according to advocates. Legislation is being floated to save them and recently some help has come from two unexpected sources.
Dooley Lays Out State’s Approach for Developmental Centers
In a legislative hearing last week, California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana Dooley addressed the potential transition of developmental center patients to community-based programs.
Poll: Interest Running High in Exchange
Covered California is in for a wave of enrollees in the next few days, according to a poll from the Public Policy Institute of California that says three-quarters of the state’s uninsured plan to get insurance by March 31.