Latest California Healthline Stories
Healthy Families’ First Phase Done, Now Comes the Harder Part
California is in the thick of moving almost one million children from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal managed care. With a shortened first phase of 178,000 kids successfully completed, attention turns to the next two phases that will shift coverage for about 485,000 children.
Stakeholders See California as National Model for Revamping Mental Health Care Services
Kirsten Barlow of the California Mental Health Directors Association, Sonoma County Mental Health Director Michael Kennedy, Rusty Selix of the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies and Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg spoke with California Healthline about California’s experience revamping its mental health care system.
Inland Empire Provider Positioning for Growth in Reform
On the heels of opening a new hospital and medical plaza, Loma Linda University Health is planning to build a 150,000 square-foot medical campus in San Bernardino. Experts say the health system is positioning itself for changes in competition and reimbursement from health care reform.
Pharmacies, Not-for-Profit Groups Could Help Enroll More Californians
Covered California wants to work with retail stores and pharmacies to help make people aware of and sign up for coverage through the exchange. It also has launched a major campaign to involve community groups in the outreach effort.
School-Based Wellness Centers Making the Grade in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County expects to have 14 wellness centers operating in public schools by 2014. Planned before the Affordable Care Act was enacted, L.A.’s school-based clinics dovetail with reforms in the law and go further by teaming with community providers who work with students and their families.
Individual Market Reforms Called ‘Historic’
Two bills in the California Legislature are reshaping the state’s individual insurance market by “fundamentally changing the rules that insurers play by,” according to consumer advocates.
Campaign Against ‘Junk Drinks’ Will Grow, Experts Predict
Two new studies released last week — one showing that anti-tobacco efforts saved California money over the past two decades and the other showing growing support for a tax on sugary drinks — may foreshadow new health care policy on the horizon.
New Navy Hospital in San Diego Sign of the Changing Times
San Diego’s new Navy hospital, which will have relatively few inpatient beds but a busy flow of outpatients, is described by one consultant as “a great example of what everybody else should be looking to do in their communities.”
What Will Happen With Millions of ‘Residually Uninsured’ Californians?
Covered California, the state’s new health insurance marketplace, will add millions to the state’s insured population, while a Medi-Cal expansion will add millions more. But for all the newly insured, there still will be three to four million Californians — known as the “residually uninsured” — who remain without coverage.
California Lagging in Percentage of Children Who Receive Regular Dental Screenings, Care
Jim Crall of UCLA School of Dentistry, Parvathi Pokala of Rady Children’s Hospital, dentist Paul Reggiardo of Huntington Beach and Lindsey Robinson of the California Dental Association spoke with California Healthline about efforts to increase the percentage of California children who receive regular dental care.