Latest California Healthline Stories
Costs Push Americans To Look Abroad for Health Care Services
With health care costs on the rise, more U.S. residents are considering traveling overseas to undergo medical procedures, often at a fraction of the cost the operation would cost stateside. Health care advocates say the trend highlights shortcomings in the U.S. health care system.
Study: California To Face Critical Shortage of Allied Health Care Workers by 2020
Abdi Soltani of the Campaign for College Opportunity, Jose Millan of the community college system and Marilyn Chow of Kaiser Permanente spoke with California Healthline about the lack of allied health workers and what can be done about it.
California Could Become National Model for Telemedicine
Given California’s size, large percentage of rural residents and policymakers’ willingness to find innovative ways to boost health care quality, the state is well positioned to become a model for telemedicine adoption and use. To seize this opportunity, the state must first alleviate some of the economical, regulatory and behavioral barriers preventing providers from deploying the technology.
HMOs Make Few Gains in Patient Care in Annual State Report Card for Consumers
John Zweifler of the Office of the Patient Advocate and representatives from Aetna, the California Medical Association and Health Access spoke with California Healthline about OPA’s latest Healthcare Quality Report Card.
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.
California Looks to Nursing Schools in Mexico To Help Boost Supply of Nurses
Paul Feist of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency; Linda Ngay of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California; and Debra Berger of the California Nurses Association discussed the proposed program.
Questions on Medi-Cal Funding Remain After Budget Deal
More than $1 billion in payments to health care providers were delayed after the Medi-Cal emergency fund was exhausted after only one month during the budget stalemate. In response, at least two lawmakers plan legislation for next year to increase the Medi-Cal emergency fund.
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.
California Launches New Public Health Department
Supporters of the move to have a distinct state agency assume responsibility for public health operations hope that it will boost the state’s preparedness, but critics worry that it will lead to complacency about public health issues.
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.