Latest California Healthline Stories
Bill Would Amend Medicare Payment Inequities Among California Counties Classified as Rural
Larry deGhetaldi of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Elizabeth McNeil of the California Medical Association and Tom Mentzer, spokesperson for Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), discussed the proposal with California Healthline.
Public Opinion, Research Show Support for Health Care Reform
A slew of public interest polls, research papers and petitions point to overwhelming agreement that the country’s health system needs an overhaul. The flurry of opinion and research arrives as Congress begins deliberation on competing reform bills.
Nurse Education Programs Making Strides in Closing California’s Impending RN Shortage
Stephanie Leach of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Judy Papenhausen of CSU-San Marcos and David Welch of the California Nurses Association discussed the initiatives with California Healthline.
Reducing Safety Net Bad Fiscal, Moral Choice, Advocates Say
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s plan to eliminate primary care programs for migrant workers and other low-income Californians along with plans to eliminate adult day health care programs for frail seniors may save money now but health advocates say the cuts will cost the state in the long run.
State’s Public Health Programs Excel at Cost Control, Study Shows
Health premiums for plans purchased by private California employers increased by 138% over the past decade, almost four times more than premium increases for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families coverage from the same insurance companies, according to new research.
Physicians’ Move to ‘Concierge Medicine’ Raises Concerns About Access to Health Care Services
Thomas LaGrelius of the Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design, Anthony Wright of Health Access and physicians Paul Sweigert and Mai-Phuong Nguyen discussed the trend with California Healthline.
U.S. Seeks Input for Establishing Regional IT Extension Centers
Last week, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology formally invited comments on how to form a network of regional extension centers to help medical providers choose and use electronic health records. Comments are due by 5 p.m. June 11.
Californians Rank Health Coverage Essentials in New Study
California patients prefer a no-frills approach to health insurance, and they’re willing to trade non-essential coverage for keeping costs down, according to a new report, “What Matters Most.”
California Lawmakers Take Aim at Gender-Based Pricing for Health Insurance Coverage
California Sen. Mark Leno, Lisa Codispoti of the National Women’s Law Center, Marti Fisher of the California Chamber of Commerce and Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans discuss the efforts.
New Bill, Research Push Changes to Health Insurance Market
A bill proposed by Assembly member Dave Jones would direct California regulators to classify health insurance plans into five categories in an effort to help consumers understand coverage and expenses. A recent study found wide variation in California health insurance policies.