The Health Law

Latest California Healthline Stories

Why the ObamaCare ‘Dirty Deals’ Don’t Tarnish the Law

Opponents of the Affordable Care Act are now trumpeting secret White House emails as their latest evidence that the reform law is broken. One author of the law begs to differ.

Pre-Existing Condition Reform Passes

When state Sen. Ed Hernandez introduced his bill SB 961 to the Senate floor yesterday, the West Covina Democrat’s speech was laden with the historic nature of the legislation.

“As we all know, on March 23rd of 2010, the president of the United States of America signed into law the comprehensive health care reform bill known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” Hernandez said.

“I feel tremendous responsibility to ensure that California continues to lead the nation in implementing federal reform,” he said, “and that we serve as a model for the rest of this country.”

ACA Grants Enable Inland Empire Clinics To Expand

The Affordable Care Act is funneling approximately $9 million into the Inland Empire to improve and expand community health centers in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

If ACA Stands, What California Stands To Gain (or Lose)

The Supreme Court’s ruling on ObamaCare is imminent, and most analysts have focused on what happens if the law gets struck down. Here’s a reminder of what comes next if the law is allowed to stand.

Does Health Care’s Profit Motive Hurt More Than it Helps?

The federal health care law has created a whole new set of financial incentives, and some less-appealing implications — like several marketers pitching hospice care as a “cost-cutter” for hospitals — are now coming to light.

Basic Health Program: Good or Bad Idea for California?

The California Legislature is considering a proposal to create a Basic Health Program in California that would provide low-cost public health insurance for as many as one million Californians who otherwise might not qualify for subsidized coverage. We asked stakeholders and experts what California should do.

Four Myths About ObamaCare That Just Won’t Die

Has any piece of major legislation ever engendered as much misinformation? More than two years after the Affordable Care Act passed, both critics and supporters are still telling tall tales — and coming up with new ones, too.

State Loses Bid To Cut FQHC Rates, Restructure Pay System

Two budget subcommittees recently rejected an attempt by the state Department of Health Care Services to rework the way it pays federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. The proposal included a funding cut of 10%, or about $100 million, to those centers.

Health Facilities Get Improvement Boost

The federal government yesterday issued $722 million in renovation and construction grants to community health centers, including $122 million in grants to California facilities.

Dean Germano, CEO of Shasta Community Health Center  in Redding, said his center’s $5 million capital grant announced yesterday will pay for about half of a planned $10 million building addition.

“The plans are completed, and we were waiting on a decision from HHS to see if we could do this,” Germano said.