Latest California Healthline Stories
Pay for Performance a Factor in Medicare Reform
California HMOs have adopted pay-for-performance programs at a higher rate than the national average, and other states are encouraging CMS to adopt the programs, which some see as a way of addressing the sustainability of Medicare and Medicaid.
San Francisco Moves Forward With Health Access Plan
San Francisco leaders say the plan to provide health care access to all city residents will withstand any potential legal changes, and health care advocates see the plan as an important step in health care reform.
New Rules Might Limit Medi-Cal Benefits for Nursing Home Care
Under new federal rules, eligibility for nursing home benefits under Medi-Cal will be restricted to people whose home equity is $750,000 or less, a change that could have a big impact in states like California that have high real estate prices.
Kaiser Transplant Program Could Spur More Oversight
The collapse of an organ-transplant program last month at the largest and one of the most highly regarded HMOs in the country is sending ripples of worry through the health care community.
State Oversight of Nursing Homes Draws Criticism
California and the federal government are investigating whether the state agency charged with regulating nursing homes is doing the job adequately. At a time when the state’s elderly population is poised to increase substantially, some advocates are wondering whether the state is prepared for the demographic change.
Groups Look to Tobacco Tax Increase for Health Care Funding
Groups seeking to raise funds for children’s health insurance coverage, medical research, and tobacco cessation, as well as a group seeking funds for hospital emergency departments are considering ballot measures in 2006 to increase the state tobacco tax.
Experts Debate Possible Effects of Long-Term Care Insurance Bill
Legislation under consideration in Congress is intended to create incentives for middle-income consumers to purchase long-term care insurance, but some insurance experts have questioned how much the legislation would benefit consumers.
Healthy Kids Programs Gain Momentum in Counties Statewide
Four years after the first Healthy Kids program sprang up in Santa Clara County, homegrown health insurance programs have spread to almost half the counties in California, covering children who fall through the cracks in state and federal programs.
Care Provider Preparedness Could Affect Part D Rollout
The federal government has recommended that Medicare beneficiaries consult care providers with questions about the Medicare drug benefit, but some senior advocates and professional associations say providers might not be prepared to answer such questions.
New Medicare Drug Benefit Might Be a Tough Sell
Advocacy groups in California and nationwide are preparing to help Medicare beneficiaries enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and are specifically preparing to educate beneficiaries about provisions of the benefit while addressing their concerns about enrollment and the benefit itself.