Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Payment Delays Push California Physicians To Stop Accepting New Patients
Mike Barlow of Palmetto, Dev GnanaDev of the California Medical Association, and Sandra Newman and Julian Delgado of the California Academy of Family Physicians discussed the situation with California Healthline.
Advocates Oppose Halt To Kids’ Insurance Enrollment
As Californians face the bleakest economy in decades, California’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program is considering putting a hold on enrollment because of a budget deficit. Advocates say help could come from Washington, D.C. early in the next administration.
Stem Cell Researchers Welcome Rule Changes After Obama Victory
President-elect Obama has pledged to overturn President Bush’s executive order limiting federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, but scientists realize that efforts to jump start the flailing U.S. economy will probably come first.
Critics Argue for Overhaul, Expansion of California High-Risk Health Insurance Program
Elizabeth Landsberg of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, Anthony Wright of Health Access and Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans spoke to California Healthline about the state’s high-risk insurance program.
State To End Part B Premium Payments for Some Beneficiaries
Thousands of low-income seniors will soon be responsible for paying $96.40 monthly premiums for Medicare Part B that California previously had paid. Senior advocates worry that the change will push some beneficiaries to opt out of Part B, which covers outpatient care.
Privacy Breaches at UCLA Highlight Need for Action on Privacy Throughout UC System
Kathleen Billingsley of the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Healthcare Quality, Roxanne Moster of UCLA and Patrick Schlesinger of the University of California discussed security breaches with California Healthline.
Report: Disease Prevention Efforts Save Money, Boost Health
Investing $10 per person per year in community-based disease prevention programs could save California $1.7 billion over five years, according to a new report. Beyond the cost savings, advocates trumpet the health improvements as reason enough for the spending.
Autism Advocates Pushing for State Laws Requiring Health Insurers To Cover Treatments
Kristin Jacobson of advocacy group Autism Speaks, Susan Pisano of America’s Health Insurance Plans and Antonio Hardan of Stanford University’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital discuss coverage of autism treatments.
Financial Meltdown Taking California Budget From Bad to Worse
California’s health care system, already reeling from Medi-Cal cutbacks, faces new risks if the receding economy pushes health insurance out of reach for more people, as many predict it will.
Prop. 4: Third Try for Parental Notification of Abortion
Proposition 4 includes revisions in reporting details, fines and timeframes, but it has much in common with ballot initiatives that California voters rejected in 2005 and 2006.