Latest California Healthline Stories
California Launches New Public Health Department
Supporters of the move to have a distinct state agency assume responsibility for public health operations hope that it will boost the state’s preparedness, but critics worry that it will lead to complacency about public health issues.
Online Hospital, Physician Ratings Advance Transparency in California Health Care
The ratings drew strong reactions from some low-scoring hospitals. California Healthline spoke with David Carlisle of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and Robert Schott of Sutter Medical Center.
Cost Takes Center Stage in Health Care Reform Efforts
CalPERS isn’t taking a position in California’s health care reform debate, but the giant pension fund is backing efforts to control health care cost increases. Other groups agree that costs are a problem but instead are pushing for a complete overhaul of the way Californians get health care.
Pay Attention to Prevention: A Message That People Don’t Hear
New statistics show that Medicare beneficiaries are not using the preventive care benefits that the program covers. Health care advocates assert that the situation could contribute to more serious illnesses developing later, pushing Medicare officials to plan wider outreach efforts.
CalPERS Investment in New Venture Capital Firm Focused on Health Care Improvements
CalPERS has invested $700 million to help launch a private equity fund headed by David Brailer, a former Bush administration official. Brailer and Clark McKinley of CalPERS spoke with California Healthline about the fund.
What Is California Going To Do About Retiree Health Costs?
Gov. Schwarzenegger has formed a commission to weigh the options, but it remains to be seen how California will cover the projected $48 billion cost of health benefits for retired state workers. Moreover, is this the issue that will lead to large-scale health care reform?
San Francisco Moves Ahead With Health Coverage Expansion
The Healthy San Francisco program won’t offer health insurance, per se, but the effort to make health care services available to all city residents is drawing attention, as businesses and advocates await the outcome of a suit challenging one aspect of the plan’s funding mechanism.
Try, Try Again: Health IT on the Agenda in Congress
A new batch of health information technology bills are on the way, but many measures slated to be introduced in the current session of Congress are revived and revised versions of legislation from 2005. What has changed since the last time they were introduced?
Telemedicine Network at the Forefront of Schwarzenegger’s Agenda for Health IT
California is pushing a plan to link more than 300 health care providers through a statewide network. Michael Liang in the governor’s office and Jana Katz Bell at UC-Davis spoke to California Healthline.
Groups in California Take Aim at Medicare Payments
How much should Medicare pay doctors and hospitals? That’s the question at the heart of two claims filed in California. One argues that Medicare is shortchanging care providers, while the other maintains that inflated reimbursements are hitting beneficiaries in the wallet.