Latest California Healthline Stories
Assembly Committee Squashes Soda Tax
The Assembly Committee on Health yesterday turned thumbs down to a proposed tax on sugar sweetened beverages in California.
Coalitions Form To Get Slice of Budget
A $10 million TV advertising campaign is part of new efforts to put pressure on the governor and lawmakers to make more room in the budget for health care programs — particularly children’s health.
California Proposes To Expand Incentive Pay for Some Medi-Cal Providers
An incentive payment program for hospitals and shared savings for managed care plans are included in California’s new Medi-Cal waiver proposal being negotiated with federal regulators.
Senate Select Committee Hears Strategies To End Child Poverty in California
State senators heard policy recommendations for ending child poverty in California during a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Women and Inequality this week.
Scorecard: Less Than Half of Medicare Payments Tied to Value
A new scorecard from Catalyst for Payment Reform shows that while there is progress in tying Medicare payments to value, there’s still a long way to go.
Study: Quality, Access Not Affected by Covered California Narrow Networks
A new study suggests narrower hospital networks offered in plans through Covered California do not reduce quality or access.
Floor Vote Next for Nurse Practitioner Bill
A bill aimed at expanding nurse practitioners’ scope of practice was approved yesterday by the appropriations committee and now moves to the floor of the California Senate.
Study: School Food Policies Paying Off
California laws governing food and drink at public schools appear to be improving overweight and obesity problems, especially in affluent neighborhoods, according to a new study.
Children’s Eye Exam Bill Advances
A bill in the California Legislature calling for comprehensive eye exams for school age children got its second unanimous committee endorsement this week.
Nurses, Hospital Officials Clash Over Observation Units, Charity Care
Nurses and hospital officials disagreed over bills dealing with hospital observation status and not-for-profit charity care during testimony before the Senate health committee yesterday.