Latest California Healthline Stories
Can Transparency Tools Further the ACA’s Goals of Reducing Costs?
While the Affordable Care Act aims to reduce health care costs and make coverage more affordable for U.S. residents, research suggests that consumer concerns about costs linger and have caused some to delay needed care. Price transparency tools could be key to the equation.
How To Avoid the Horse Race When Following the ACA Supreme Court Case
Wednesday’s oral arguments in King v. Burwell represent the culmination of a long legal battle over the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies. Here’s a look at several late-breaking developments and data that have shaped the case, as well as implications.
ACA Wish List: What Experts Say Congress Should Change About the Law This Year
Repealing the Affordable Care Act is unlikely to happen, but experts say several provisions of the law still need to be changed. What should be next on Congress’ list of priorities?
Cost Drivers and How To Steer Them
Expensive drugs got much of the blame last week during a legislative hearing hoping to pinpoint the major cost drivers in the state’s health care system.
How To Pay for Retiree Health Coverage
We asked politicians, academics and consumer advocates how California should pay for the rising costs of providing health coverage for retired state workers.
Could Military Retirees, Dependents End Up in the ACA’s Exchanges?
Some experts have said that military dependents and retirees should be moved out of Tricare coverage and into health plans sold through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges. But others believe that idea may be unrealistic.
The Bitter Truth: Brill’s ‘Bitter Pill’ Changed Nothing.
The landmark Time story that shook health care two years ago has been resurrected as a new best-selling book. But did author Steven Brill accurately diagnose the industry’s problems, and if so, why didn’t anyone follow his original prescription for a cure?
Bill Introduced To Create Statewide Health Care Cost, Quality Database
State Sen. Ed Hernandez has introduced a bill that would create an online database to compare costs and quality of health care products and services in California.
New Tools To Stem Rising Prices
We asked stakeholders, researchers and consumer advocates to weigh in on new anti-inflationary tools such as payment limits for specific medical treatments and new rules for containing prescription drug spending.
High-Priced Drug Makes Its Way Into California Prisons
California Correctional Health Care Services, which oversees clinical care and prescriptions for 125,000 inmates at 34 prisons, last month began using the expensive hepatitis C drug Sovaldi. The treatment has sparked a congressional investigation and a debate over its price.