Latest California Healthline Stories
Legislature Firms Up Budget Deal; Almost All Health Issues Go Wanting
The Legislature and governor said no to a raft of health care funding proposals — including Medi-Cal provider rates and autism as a Medi-Cal benefit — in a budget agreement being released today and put to a vote on Sunday.
Appeals Court Reverses Lawsuit Ruling, Requires Mental Health Coverage
Insurers must provide a broad range of mental health coverage, according to a ruling from the state Court of Appeal that reversed a Superior Court decision.
Approval of Autism Benefit in Louisiana May Influence California Budget Talks
California lawmakers are considering making autism therapy a Medi-Cal benefit, an idea bolstered by CMS’ approval last month of a similar plan in Louisiana.
Dental Group Warns of Provider Crisis for Special Needs Oral Care Patients
Low Medi-Cal reimbursement rates are blamed for a drop-off in the number of California hospitals caring for dental patients with special needs.
How Budget Cuts Hit the Health System
Several health care budget decisions will be made this week in Sacramento, including Medi-Cal provider rates, home health care worker overtime and mental health program funding. One legislator breaks down how those decisions might have long-term effects.
Home Care Providers, Recipients Make Push To Be Included in Budget Deals
Budget decisions are about to be made in Sacramento. Home health care workers and the people who rely on them gathered in the capitol to make sure their funding requests are heard.
Study Could Bolster Soda Warning Bill
High levels of sugar are not the only problem in soda and other sweetened drinks — but also the type of sugar in those drinks, according to a study from University of Southern California researchers.
Hospital Funding Measure Won’t Qualify in Time for November 2014 Ballot
A ballot initiative designed to make a hospital fee and funding mechanism permanent probably will have to wait till 2016 because the verification process for petition signatures liekly will take too long for the measure to make it to the ballot this year.
Safety-Net Hospitals Face $1.5 Billion Shortfall by 2019, UCLA Study Says
Public hospitals taking care of the poorest Californians could be looking at a $1.5 billion shortfall, according to a new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Budget Wrangling Ramps Up This Week Over Children’s Health Care Programs
The fate of a number of state health care programs — including the possibility of autism therapy as a Medi-Cal benefit — will be decided in budget talks this week.