Latest California Healthline Stories
Poised for Growth, Commercial ACOs Also Face Considerable Challenges
Accountable care organizations formed by private insurers and health systems face different requirements and challenges than those regulated by CMS. As commercial organizations increasingly jump on the ACO bandwagon, other private entities will be watching from the sidelines to see if they find success.
Judgment Delayed on Potential State Takeover of Alameda Alliance for Health
The fate of an Alameda County health plan remains in legal limbo until next week when a judge is scheduled to hear the case on whether the state will be allowed to take control of it.
Rate Regulation Battle Lines Drawn
Strategies are taking shape in the battle over a ballot initiative to give California officials regulatory authority over health insurance rate increases. Two days after proponents staged a rally denouncing huge cash reserves held by Kaiser Permanente, opponents released a study finding that such regulation could throw a wrench in reform efforts.
High-Profile Ballot Measure Hopes To Curb Health Insurance Rate Hikes
Businesswoman Marti Conger, Jamie Court of Consumer Watchdog, R. Adams Dudley of UC-San Francisco, physician Ted Mazer, Dylan Roby of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and Robin Swanson of Californians Against Higher Health Care Costs spoke with California Healthline about an expensive and controversial November ballot measure that would give enforcement power to the state Insurance Commissioner to regulate health insurance rate hikes.
Advocates Claim Civil Rights Violations of Chronically Ill From Benefit Design
High coinsurance costs in specialty tiers are keeping lifesaving medications out of reach of consumers with some chronic illnesses, according to patient advocacy groups.
UCLA Study: Even With Coverage, Undocumented Use Fewer Services
A new study showing undocumented Californians use fewer health care services than U.S. citizens could make a proposed California bill to cover those left out of the Affordable Care Act more palatable.
New Report Shows Rate Review Process Saved Californians $349M Since 2011
A new analysis suggesting California’s health insurance rate review process saves money comes as legislators and voters consider new, stronger proposals to regulate health insurance premiums.
L.A. County’s Remaining Uninsured Bound for a Medical Home
With more than one million Los Angeles County residents still lacking health insurance, a new iteration of the Healthy Way L.A. program launches in September to provide coverage for those left out of health reform changes.
Panel OKs Bill To Cover Undocumented
A plan to provide health coverage for undocumented Californians took a big step forward yesterday with approval from the Senate health committee. A major question — how to pay for it — remains unanswered.
Advocates Roll Out Plan for Uninsured
At an Assembly hearing yesterday, advocates floated a proposal for a state-funded program to provide health insurance for the undocumented population in California.