Latest California Healthline Stories
Are Virtual Doctor Visits Really Cost-Effective? Not So Much, Study Says
Rand Corp. finds that telehealth encourages patients to seek care for minor illnesses they wouldn’t bother to make an office visit for, raising overall health costs.
Health Insurance: What If You Could Take It With You?
“Portability” will likely be a buzz word in the health law repeal-and-replace debate, but the concept raises a number of complicated policy issues.
Patient Advocacy Groups Rake In Donations From Pharma
A new study shows that 83 percent of the largest patient advocacy groups take contributions from drug, medical device or biotech firms.
President Trump And I Take The Same Drugs — Except One
An aging writer discovers there are worse things than going bald after examining the side effects of a popular hair loss drug purportedly used by President Donald Trump.
Advocates Of Flat-Fee Primary Care See Opening In GOP’s Market-Driven Approach
In direct primary care, a monthly fee covers routine care, limiting insurers’ role. But does it really provide better value?
5 Reasons Why An $89,000 Drug Has Congress Fuming
A drug from Marathon Pharmaceuticals has ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill and beyond. What makes it different than the $750,000 drug that came before it?
Travel Ban Spotlights U.S. Dependence On Foreign-Born Doctors
One in four doctors practicing in the U.S. is an international medical doctor. Many foreign-born doctors practice in parts of the country where there are doctor shortages.
Senator Grassley Launches Inquiry Into Orphan Drugs After KHN Investigation
Citing a Kaiser Health News investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley vows to examine the orphan drug program and possible fixes.
Dozens Of New Cancer Drugs Do Little To Improve Survival, Frustrating Patients
The FDA has approved dozens of new cancer medications in recent years, but few offer the benefits that patients seek.
Industry Giants Anthem, Centene Among The Lowest-Rated Medicaid Plans In California
State data show all but one of Anthem’s Medi-Cal managed care plans rate below average according to widely used measures of patient care. Centene runs the three lowest-performing plans statewide.