Latest California Healthline Stories
Patching County Safety Nets While Working for Statewide Coverage for Uninsured
Health Access and the California Endowment highlighted progress in five counties as part of their campaign to provide health coverage for an estimated three million Californians still without health insurance.
Blue Shield Lost Its Tax Exemption Last Year. Who’s Next?
After 75 years, Blue Shield of California is tax-exempt no more. With a slew of bills and audits underway across the nation, experts say to expect further scrutiny of not-for-profit insurers and hospitals — and possibly, a wave of other health care organizations losing tax-exempt status, too.
Bill Melds Health Reform Goal With Shift in California Workers’ Comp System
A bill in the California Legislature seeks to provide health care for farm workers by redirecting money from the state’s $15 billion workers compensation system.
HIV Medication Decision in Florida May Have Implications in California
A lawsuit in Florida triggered an insurer’s decision to lower the price of certain HIV medications for consumers by assigning the drugs to the generic drug tier. Advocates say the move may affect California’s pricing.
State Insurance Commissioner Calls Out Blue Shield for ‘Second Tax Dodge’
On the heels of the Franchise Tax Board’s revocation of Blue Shield of California’s tax-exempt status, the state insurance commissioner said the insurer is avoiding premium taxes to the tune of $100 million each year.
Report Urges Statewide Standards for Indigent Care in California
A new report from Health Access urges state policymakers to adopt more statewide standards for indigent care to improve California’s safety-net system which varies widely from county to county.
Uninsured Rate for ‘Young Invincibles’ Dips Below 10% at State Universities
A sharp decline in the rate of uninsured Latino students contributed to overall low uninsured rates at seven California State University campuses, according to research released yesterday.
How To Avoid the Horse Race When Following the ACA Supreme Court Case
Wednesday’s oral arguments in King v. Burwell represent the culmination of a long legal battle over the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies. Here’s a look at several late-breaking developments and data that have shaped the case, as well as implications.
ACA Wish List: What Experts Say Congress Should Change About the Law This Year
Repealing the Affordable Care Act is unlikely to happen, but experts say several provisions of the law still need to be changed. What should be next on Congress’ list of priorities?
Narrow Networks Can Limit Patient Choice, but Are They Affecting Provider Behavior?
While most of the focus on narrow networks in the Affordable Care Act’s exchange plans has been on how they affect consumers, some health policy insiders have begun considering the impact of such plans on providers. But is it too soon to tell the full effects of such networks on hospitals and physicians?