The Health Law

Latest California Healthline Stories

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?

How Two States Are Addressing Consumer Concerns About Narrow Networks

Insurers, regulators and state and federal lawmakers spent a good portion of last year belatedly acknowledging consumer complaints about health plans limited provider networks, learning more about the problem and drafting nascent solutions. Here’s a look at how two states are handling the issue.

The Measles Outbreak Is a Big Story. This One’s Bigger.

Vaccination news has dominated the headlines, but there’s a much bigger health policy story that stands to shake up the industry, experts say: Medicare’s new proposal to shift how it pays hospitals and doctors, which could ultimately transform health care’s decades-old fee-for-service system.

UCLA Report Could Serve as ‘Baseline’ To Measure ACA Effects

“The State of Health Insurance” report from UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research could help state officials and legislators evaluate the effects of the Affordable Care Act in California.

What the Affordable Care Act Means for Taxpayers in 2015

This year’s tax season marks the first time U.S. residents will have to report their health insurance status, and possibly pay a penalty under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. One tax expert predicts a “bumpy road” ahead.

Inland Empire Health Plan Tops One Million, Scurries To Keep Up With Growth

Inland Empire Health Plan — thought to be California’s fastest-growing health insurer — has surpassed the one-million mark with the addition of 350,000 new enrollees.

Examining the Questions Surrounding King v. Burwell

The question at the heart of King v. Burwell — can people who purchase health coverage through the federal exchange receive subsidies? — is fairly simple. But how the Supreme Court decides to answer that very question could cause a ripple effect.