Latest California Healthline Stories
Governor Signs Bill Allowing Mid-Level Practitioners To OK Resuscitative Edicts
California physician assistants and nurse practitioners can approve patient wishes regarding resuscitative measures under legislation approved yesterday by the governor.
Advocates, CMS Warn Providers About Continuing Medicare ‘Balance Billing’
A CMS report says low-income seniors and those with disabilities often are billed for copayments, deductibles and other forms of shared payments, which is against the law.
Survey: Doctors Wary of Quality Metrics
Half of primary care physicians have a negative view of quality-of-care metrics, and they worry that those measures could compromise care, a new survey says.
Clinton Meets With Home Care Workers
Home care providers and consumers gathered in Los Angeles yesterday to meet with Hillary Clinton in a roundtable format.
Oscar Wants To ‘Revolutionize’ Health Care. But Will It Even Survive Covered California?
Oscar, the buzzed-about health insurance startup, will join Covered California this year. Can it deliver on its hype, or will it get lost in the crowd?
The Curious Case of Health Care’s Merger Mania — Is Obamacare To Blame?
The health care industry appears poised to undergo a new wave of consolidation, and some observers are blaming Obamacare. Has the law really created an environment ripe for mergers?
Emergency Transport Firms Want a Seat at Medi-Cal Rate Talks Table
A coalition of six emergency transport companies, saying Medi-Cal reimbursement covers one-sixth of the actual cost of emergency ambulance services, seeks a rate increase from the state.
Survey Bolsters Nurse Practitioner Bill
AARP, which has been campaigning for state legislation to expand scope of practice for nurse practitioners, is releasing a survey today that shows strong support for the proposal among older Californians.
Many Providers Hated the ACA When It Became Law. Have Their Opinions Changed Five Years Later?
While the health care reform law has gained the backing of some prominent physician groups, surveys and provider commentary in the media show that a majority of doctors hold a negative view of the Affordable Care Act. “Road to Reform” takes a look at past surveys to see how providers’ feelings have changed.
Why California’s ACOs Could Become a Model for the Nation
Organizations experimenting with the much-hyped accountable care organization model are starting to report uneven results. Could California’s pilot programs turn into a national model — even as Medicare’s flagship ACO program shows signs of weakness?