Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Centers Play Bigger Role in California Health Care
Federally qualified health centers are seeing more patients in California, providing a new career alternative for family physicians and new options for county governments struggling to fulfill their obligation to care for the state’s indigent population.
Consumer Advocates, Health Insurers Support Reform Proposals That Boost Preventive Care
Tom Epstein of Blue Shield of California, Robert Pearl of the Permanente Medical Group and Anthony Wright of Health Access spoke with California Healthline about health care reform proposals designed to promote wellness.
Health IT Stimulus Programs Taking Shape
The federal government is moving ahead with implementation of various provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In recent weeks, federal agencies have announced hundreds of millions of dollars in grant opportunities and have laid out application procedures.
Health Care Reform Debate Roiled by Concerns Over Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants
Immigration attorney Sonal Ambegaokar, Anthony Cava of DHCS, Kathleen King of the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation and Yeh Ling-Ling of Alliance for a Sustainable USA discussed the debate with California Healthline.
Technology Incentives Not So Stimulating for Dentists
Dentists are among the “eligible professionals” in line for federal stimulus money for using electronic health records, but some dental advocates are worried oral health may get short shrift in the current push toward digital record keeping.
State Auditor Criticizes California Agencies’ Handling of Health IT
A California state auditor report criticizing two state health agencies’ management of information technology was triggered by union complaints, but the report also illustrates larger issues involving paper-based bureaucracies moving slowly and somewhat clumsily into the digital era.
Cuts to Calif. Mental Health Care Could Leave Patients With Nowhere To Turn, Advocates Say
John Buck of Turning Point Community Programs, Patricia Ryan of the California Mental Health Directors Association and Rusty Selix of the Mental Health Association in California discussed recent funding losses.
Shorter Waits To See a Doctor Coming Soon to California
In the works since 2002, new state regulations will go into effect this fall limiting the amount of time patients have to wait to see a doctor in managed care systems.
California Health Officials Prepare To Combat Expected Increase in H1N1 Influenza Cases
Deborah Burger of CNA, Gil Chavez of the state public health department, Cheri Hummel of the California Hospital Association and Hilary McLean of the education department discussed H1N1 preparedness with California Healthline.
Officials Making Gradual Progress on Efforts To Overhaul State Health Licensing Boards
Ann Boynton of the nursing board, Julie D’Angelo Fellmeth of UC-San Diego, Charles Ornstein of ProPublica and Brian Stiger of the Consumer Affairs Department discussed licensing board reform with California Healthline.