Latest California Healthline Stories
California Seeks Changes to Medicare Audit Program
CMS has piloted a Medicare audit program in California since 2005, but many California hospitals, nursing homes and now lawmakers say there are major problems in the program and are calling for it to be re-examined before it is rolled out nationwide.
California Seeks Fines, Penalties Against Insurers for Claims Processing Violations
Cindy Ehnes, director of the Department of Managed Health Care, and Santiago Munoz of the UC Health System spoke with California Healthline about the state’s record fines against PacifiCare for alleged improper claims handling.
Telemedicine Efforts Target Uninsured, Rural Hispanics
Use of telemedicine is becoming a more common way to treat chronic diseases among specific underserved populations, such as Hispanics. Two programs in the state have had early success using the technology to stave off development of more serious and costly conditions among people with diabetes.
Budget Cuts Could Further Limit Provider Pool for Denti-Cal Enrollees, Groups Say
Liz Snow of the California Dental Association and Carmela Castellano-Garcia of the California Primary Care Association discussed the governor’s proposed changes in the dental program for low-income Californians.
Retail Clinics Make Inroads in California, Despite Some Hesitation
California insurers are taking a cautious approach to retail clinics as they open more locations throughout the state, underlining some of the lingering questions over how retail clinics will affect the health care system.
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.