Capitol Desk

Latest California Healthline Stories

State Insurance Commissioner Calls Out Blue Shield for ‘Second Tax Dodge’

On the heels of the Franchise Tax Board’s revocation of Blue Shield of California’s tax-exempt status, the state insurance commissioner said the insurer is avoiding premium taxes to the tune of $100 million each year.

Frustration Boils at Denti-Cal Hearing

Lack of required reporting and little progress in Denti-Cal’s low utilization rates made for a tense and testy legislative hearing on dental coverage for five million California children yesterday in Sacramento.

Hearing Today on Denti-Cal Report

A joint legislative hearing in Sacramento today will look at a state auditor’s report sounding an alarm about low utilization rates and a dearth of participating dentists in the Denti-Cal program.

Prime Backs Out of Buying Hospitals

Citing “onerous and unprecedented” conditions placed on the sale of six California safety-net hospitals by the state attorney general, Prime Healthcare — approved buyer of the facilities — has withdrawn its bid.

One Million Medi-Cal Renewals Up Every Month, Termination Data ‘Not Available’

Every year, Medi-Cal loses some enrollment by attrition — beneficiaries’ circumstances change, they move or they become nearly impossible to contact. Those Medi-Cal terminations could measure in the millions this year. The state has not yet released data on it.