Latest California Healthline Stories
California Works To Help Small Businesses Navigate State Exchange
Rep. Ami Bera from Sacramento County, David Chase of the Small Business Majority, San Francisco business owner Virginia Donohue and Anne Gonzales of Covered California spoke with California Healthline about the growth and benefits for small businesses to enroll in the state’s health benefit exchange.
Will Mexico’s Soda Tax Spur California?
A new tax on sugary drinks and high-calorie foods in Mexico is sparking optimism among health advocates who hope California is ready to follow suit.
New Overtime Law Has Far-Reaching Effects on Home Health Care Industry
Home health care work, which has been largely unregulated in California, will be regulated by a new law requiring overtime pay. Some industry experts say the new rule’s unintentional effects could create problems for both workers and those who depend on them.
Los Angeles, Orange Counties Grapple With Shortage of Nursing Instructors
Attracting faculty at nursing schools is a challenge for some schools in Southern California, according to stakeholders. With nursing faculty members in short supply, experts worry that the number of new nurses will not be enough to meet growing demand.
Narrow Networks in Covered California Plans Causing Confusion in San Diego
Insurers selling health plans through Covered California are limiting access to providers to hold down the cost of premiums. In San Diego, networks are in flux, leaving both consumers and doctors confused about who is participating in which networks.
New Law Aimed at Many Parents Opting Out of State’s Vaccination Program
Mark Dressner of the California Academy of Family Physicians, Barbara Loe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center and Assembly member Richard Pan spoke with California Healthline about the growing number of parents who are choosing to keep their children out of the state’s vaccination program and the new law in California that requires a provider consultation to opt out.
What Would Success Look Like for Exchange’s Small Business Program?
State health officials have started a new push to get small-business owners to seek health coverage through Covered California — a very different kind of program than the individual-market effort.
Health Information Exchange Taking Root in Northern California
Northern California health information organizations — both established and nascent — are participating in statewide pilot programs and initiatives promoting health data exchange.
California Hospital Officials Not Impressed by Research on ‘Out-of-Control Costs’
Harvard Business Review research contends that a few hospitals nationwide — including some in California — are responsible for a significant percentage of above-average charges to CMS and patients. California hospital officials did not put much stock in researchers’ conclusions.
California’s Trans Fat Law Set Stage for Pending National Ban on the ‘Anti-Food’
A national effort to ban trans fat from all foods got its start five years ago when a similar law took effect in California.