Latest California Healthline Stories
Should Obamacare Be Delayed — And More to the Point, Can It?
Mounting problems with the federal health insurance exchange have sparked widespread concern, and even supporters of the ACA are turning critical. Experts weigh in on whether the individual mandate and other elements of Obamacare should, or even can, be delayed if the problems persist.
What Covered California Did Right in Week One — and What Other States Did Better
It was a bumpy debut for Covered California, as the state’s health insurance exchange launched last week with long wait times and a glitch-filled website. How did the Golden State grade out?
Stanislaus County ACO Shows Remarkable Results in Four Key Benchmark Metrics
From emergency department visits to length of hospital stays, a number of higher-quality, lower-cost metrics have borne fruit in a new patient-centered accountable care program in the Central Valley.
It’s More Than an Emergency: Calif. Among States Seeking To Expand EMS Care
A trend of expanding Emergency Medical Services workers’ responsibilities is catching on across the U.S., as state officials look for ways to supplement Obamacare with smaller scale efforts to close care gaps and reduce spending. California is hoping to launch several of these programs by next summer, though there are barriers to entry.
The fanfare in Sacramento will be loud and long this week for the opening of the Covered California health benefit exchange. Events are planned statewide.
California Raced To ‘Set the Pace’ on Obamacare Implementation. Did it Pay Off?
Golden State leaders vowed to lead the nation when implementing health reform. On the verge of the ACA rollout, did they win the race — and does it even matter?
Exchange Officials Field Readiness Queries
With one week left before Covered California launches, legislators convened to discuss the health benefit exchange’s readiness for open enrollment.
Changes on Horizon for California Safety Net’s Care of Undocumented, Indigent
Community clinics and public hospitals in California remain the primary health care option for millions of undocumented immigrants who are ineligible for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Safety-net facilities’ strategies for remaining solvent are changing under health care reform.
A Dozen Hospitals Are Laying Off Staff and Blaming Obamacare. Don’t Believe Them.
Hospital leaders from coast to coast are blaming the health reform law for recent decisions to pare their payrolls. And while the Affordable Care Act is creating new pressure for providers — from tighter reimbursement to new penalties on poor performance — the full story is much more complex.
Researchers Helping Legislative Staff Craft Health Care Reform Message
Preparing for the Affordable Care Act includes a massive public education effort, but the public isn’t the only sector that needs training. Legislative staff members are getting pointers from researchers at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.