Latest California Healthline Stories
Exchange To Lay Out Benefit Designs
It may seem too early to contemplate Covered California premium rates and benefit designs for 2015, but in the bureaucratic world of health care next year is almost here. Designing next year’s coverage will be an important subject at this week’s exchange board meeting.
Odd Dynamic in Senate Bill Passage
In a role reversal of sorts in the state Legislature, a Republican legislator argued for passage of an Affordable Care Act bill for patient privacy rights while health care advocates argued for administrative efficacy.
Committee Backs Measure To Regulate Billing in Emergency Room Settings
Despite opposition from emergency physicians, the Senate health committee approved a bill this week designed to curb emergency department costs.
Panel OKs Sugary Drink Warning Label Bill
A bill seeking warning labels on soda and other sweetened beverages sold in California cleared its first hurdle yesterday, but not without opposition, portending a big fight ahead.
Committee Approves, Helps Frame Medical-Loss Ratio for Dental Insurers
A legislative committee not only voted to pass a bill requiring dental insurers to spend a specific percentage of their money on dental care, but also helped broker an agreement over the measure in a hearing.
Assembly Hearing Explores Restoration of Targeted Medi-Cal Benefits
A budget hearing in the state Assembly yesterday examined the topic of restoring specific Medi-Cal budget cuts in areas ranging from adult dental to acupuncture services.
Duals Demonstration Project Begins
The state’s Cal MediConnect project has officially started in five of the eight demonstration counties. Health officials hope to move as many as 456,000 dual eligibles to Medi-Cal managed care plans.
‘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.
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.