Latest California Healthline Stories
Kaiser-Target Partnership Sign of Times
The growing influence of the patient as a consumer is pushing health care organizations to try new ways to provide care. A new partnership in San Diego between Kaiser Permanente and Target illustrates that retail clinics play a growing role in meeting consumer expectations.
Nurses, Hospital Officials Clash Over Observation Units, Charity Care
Nurses and hospital officials disagreed over bills dealing with hospital observation status and not-for-profit charity care during testimony before the Senate health committee yesterday.
Doctor Strike May Be Harbinger of Reform Era Labor Problems
A strike this week by physicians at all 10 University of California student health centers could foreshadow more labor problems in an evolving health care system, according to union officials.
Scope-of-Practice Bill for Anesthesia
A dearth of anesthesiologists has prompted legislation to create a new tier of health care provider — anesthesia assistants — in California.
Residency Training Slots May Evaporate
Four funding sources for training new physicians — all designed to increase the number of family practice physicians in California — are due to expire soon.
California Group Leads National Effort Opposing Medicare Advantage Cuts
A national coalition of health care providers led by the California Association of Physician Groups is lobbying against proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage.
State May Be Double-Charging Some Health Care Professionals for Licensure
A bill reintroduced in the Assembly could save health care professionals a total of about $1 million a year in license fees, according to its author.
Scope of Practice Bill Returns, Would Let Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medication
Legislation aimed at alleviating the shortage of health care providers would allow nurse practitioners to expand their scope of practice — including prescribing medication.
State Attorney General OKs Sale of Hospitals to Prime, but With Conditions
California Attorney General Kamala Harris approved the controversial sale of six California safety-net hospitals to Prime Healthcare with added conditions that Prime has yet to agree to.
Narrow Networks Can Limit Patient Choice, but Are They Affecting Provider Behavior?
While most of the focus on narrow networks in the Affordable Care Act’s exchange plans has been on how they affect consumers, some health policy insiders have begun considering the impact of such plans on providers. But is it too soon to tell the full effects of such networks on hospitals and physicians?