Latest California Healthline Stories
Uninsured Project Buoyed by State’s Success in Expanding Medi-Cal
Instead of talking only about what they hope to accomplish, attendees at the annual Insure the Uninsured Project conference in Sacramento this week had a lot to celebrate.
Grassroots Campaigns Hope To Increase Latino Enrollment in Exchange
Lizelda Lopez from Covered California, Tracy Ream from Neighborhood Healthcare in Escondido, Gregory Talavera from San Diego State University’s Graduate School of Public Health and California Sen. Norma Torres spoke with California Healthline about the reasons for low exchange enrollment and possible ways to increase Latino participation.
Poll of State College Students Breaks Stereotypes of ‘Young Invincibles’
The big barrier for health care insurance among young people is price not indifference, according to a new poll of state college students. The findings seem to contradict a common theme about “young invincibles” who don’t think they need health insurance.
Assembly Passes Continuity of Care Bill
Insurers would be required to cover a complete course of certain treatments despite termination of coverage under a bill approved unanimously last week by the state Assembly.
Study Shows Decline in Emergency Services Use Among Newly Insured
A new UCLA study showed a correlation between having health insurance and using fewer emergency department services — one of the primary cost-saving tenets of the Affordable Care Act.
CMS, State Officials Halt Participation of CalOptima in Dual-Eligible Plan
Federal officials found “widespread and systemic” violations in an audit of Southern California insurer CalOptima, causing state officials to exclude Orange County residents — at least temporarily — from the Cal MediConnect conversion of dual-eligibles to Medi-Cal managed care.
California Works To Help Small Businesses Navigate State Exchange
Rep. Ami Bera from Sacramento County, David Chase of the Small Business Majority, San Francisco business owner Virginia Donohue and Anne Gonzales of Covered California spoke with California Healthline about the growth and benefits for small businesses to enroll in the state’s health benefit exchange.
Blue Shield Disagrees With Jones’ Assessment of Premium Rate Hike
Blue Shield of California officials say a 9.8% premium rate hike — which Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones recently rebuked — is justified because of rising health care costs and new taxes and fees.
Three of the Most Over-Hyped Health Care Reform Stories of 2013
This edition of “Road to Reform” explores three Affordable Care Act news stories that got more attention than they deserved in 2013, including the debate over the fairness of delaying the employer mandate but not the individual mandate.
Majority of Uninsured Plan To Get Coverage by 2014, New Poll Suggests
A new poll suggests most Californians know about Covered California, the state’s new health benefit exchange, and a majority of the uninsured say they’re planning to be covered by 2014.