Health Care Costs

Latest California Healthline Stories

Tobacco Foes in California Think Globally, Act Locally

At a smoking cessation forum last week in San Francisco, tobacco foes argued for stronger anti-smoking policies, and two large California employers announced new programs to help their workers quit the habit.

New Group Represents Rural Health Clinics in California

Last week, rural health clinic officials formed a new California organization to educate and advocate on behalf of “one of the most misunderstood and overlooked pieces in the health system.” State officials say they are ready to work with the group.

Abortion Notification, Kids’ Hospitals Return to Ballot

Of the eight propositions so far to qualify for California’s November ballot, two deal with health care — a measure seeking to prohibit abortions for minors without family notification and a bond measure for children’s hospitals. Both might look familiar to Californians who voted in recent elections.

Sense of Austerity Goes Beyond Budget, Hits Legislature

Belt-tightening in California this spring isn’t limited to talk of next year’s budget. A penny-pinching mood — set by two appropriations committees — has settled over both houses of the state Legislature.

California Lawmakers Take a Stab at Legislating Healthy Habits

An Assembly bill that would require companies bidding on California state contracts to provide wellness benefits for employees fits in with a national trend of state legislatures encouraging healthy habits.

Prison Receiver Seeks $7 Billion To Update, Expand Health Care for California Inmates

Clark Kelso, federal receiver overseeing health care for California’s prison system; Sens. Dave Cox and Mike Machado; and Nancy Paulus of the Legislative Analyst’s Office discussed Kelso’s plan to revamp the prison health care system.

Aging Population Could Push Major Changes to Health Care

An Institute of Medicine report released last week called for major changes in the health care system to meet the needs of an aging population. One of the report’s authors said changes could be of the same scale as those that came out of the emergence of HIV/AIDS.