Latest California Healthline Stories
Will Health Care Reform Come Down to Dueling Ballot Measures?
Recent history suggests that Californians might be faced with competing ballot initiatives aimed at reworking California’s health care system in November 2008, and a key backer of a single-payer health care system isn’t ruling out the possibility of seeking voter approval for such a system.
Retail Clinics Make Inroads in California, Despite Some Hesitation
California insurers are taking a cautious approach to retail clinics as they open more locations throughout the state, underlining some of the lingering questions over how retail clinics will affect the health care system.
Proposed Changes in Medicaid Rules Could Cost California Millions in Federal Funding
Officials from CMS, Medi-Cal, the hospital industry and patient advocacy groups spoke with California Healthline about how proposed changes to federal Medicaid rules could affect hospitals, patients and the state budget.
Costs Push Americans To Look Abroad for Health Care Services
With health care costs on the rise, more U.S. residents are considering traveling overseas to undergo medical procedures, often at a fraction of the cost the operation would cost stateside. Health care advocates say the trend highlights shortcomings in the U.S. health care system.
California Grapples With Questions Over Kids’ Health Insurance
Given the stalemate between Congress and President Bush, California has taken steps to adopt waiting lists and begin dropping children from programs funded through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. However, some advocates are questioning the legality of such moves.
HMOs Make Few Gains in Patient Care in Annual State Report Card for Consumers
John Zweifler of the Office of the Patient Advocate and representatives from Aetna, the California Medical Association and Health Access spoke with California Healthline about OPA’s latest Healthcare Quality Report Card.
Moving Beyond Health Insurance Debate, San Francisco Strives for Universal Access
Tangerine Brigham of the Healthy San Francisco program and Stephen Shortell of the UC-Berkeley School of Public Health discussed San Francisco’s attempt to ensure universal access to health care services.
Questions Linger Over Effects of New Medicaid Eligibility Rules
Californians don’t know yet how federal rules that require people to show proof-of-citizenship to enroll in Medicaid have affected California’s program. Early data from other states indicate that the rules aren’t yielding the savings that supporters expected.
Health Coverage Expansions Take Aim at Young Adults
Insurers and policymakers are pondering the best strategy for reaching young adults, a population that has a greater percentage of uninsured residents than other age groups in California. State lawmakers and WellPoint, a major insurer, disagree on the solution.
Waiting on Health Care Reform, Counties Struggle To Fund Kids’ Health Programs
Wendy Lazarus of the Children’s Partnership and Janie Tyre of the Santa Clara Family Health Plan spoke with California Healthline about the push for increased public funding of the state’s Children’s Health Initiatives.