Latest California Healthline Stories
Aging Californians Challenge State Health Care System
California policymakers are struggling to deal with the implications of a dramatic increase in the number of elderly Californians. Some of the major issues: a shortage of geriatric health care specialists, limited long-term care options and increasing numbers of Alzheimer’s patients.
Largest Physician Group in California Seen as National Leader on Price Transparency
The CFO of HealthCare Partners Medical Group and Donald Crane of the California Association of Physicians Groups spoke with California Healthline about HealthCare Partners’ decision to post prices for some services online.
Health Cost Comparison Web Sites Slowly Catching On
Health care cost comparison Web sites are cropping up nationwide, even though cost information does not seem to be the top priority of consumers who researching health information online. Health care experts say that it is only a matter of time before consumers embrace online price comparison tools.
Cost Takes Center Stage in Health Care Reform Efforts
CalPERS isn’t taking a position in California’s health care reform debate, but the giant pension fund is backing efforts to control health care cost increases. Other groups agree that costs are a problem but instead are pushing for a complete overhaul of the way Californians get health care.
Pay Attention to Prevention: A Message That People Don’t Hear
New statistics show that Medicare beneficiaries are not using the preventive care benefits that the program covers. Health care advocates assert that the situation could contribute to more serious illnesses developing later, pushing Medicare officials to plan wider outreach efforts.
CalPERS Investment in New Venture Capital Firm Focused on Health Care Improvements
CalPERS has invested $700 million to help launch a private equity fund headed by David Brailer, a former Bush administration official. Brailer and Clark McKinley of CalPERS spoke with California Healthline about the fund.
What Is California Going To Do About Retiree Health Costs?
Gov. Schwarzenegger has formed a commission to weigh the options, but it remains to be seen how California will cover the projected $48 billion cost of health benefits for retired state workers. Moreover, is this the issue that will lead to large-scale health care reform?
San Francisco Moves Ahead With Health Coverage Expansion
The Healthy San Francisco program won’t offer health insurance, per se, but the effort to make health care services available to all city residents is drawing attention, as businesses and advocates await the outcome of a suit challenging one aspect of the plan’s funding mechanism.
Groups in California Take Aim at Medicare Payments
How much should Medicare pay doctors and hospitals? That’s the question at the heart of two claims filed in California. One argues that Medicare is shortchanging care providers, while the other maintains that inflated reimbursements are hitting beneficiaries in the wallet.
Public Health Insurance Is There But Enrollment Is Lagging
Almost three million of California’s uninsured are eligible for immediate health insurance, but such an influx of new beneficiaries would require the state and federal governments to increase funding for a range of public health insurance programs.