Latest California Healthline Stories
Where Do Brokers Fit in New Health Insurance Picture?
We asked experts and stakeholders to weigh in on a bill in Congress that would exempt insurance brokers’ fees from being classified as administrative costs under the Affordable Care Act’s medical loss ratio provisions.
The Other Republican Health Reformer
As governor, one GOP presidential candidate oversaw dramatic health reforms in his state. His name? Tim Pawlenty.
Why Nursing Homes Want To Waive Goodbye to Reform Law
Should health care workers get adequate health care — or should nursing homes be exempt from the health reform law? Long-term care providers test the boundaries.
Basic Health Program: Good or Bad for California?
The California Health Benefit Exchange board met earlier this week to discuss the possibility of setting up a Basic Health Program (BHP) as an alternative to one section of the exchange.
The BHP is an alternative to the exchange’s coverage for two sets of Californians — adults with incomes between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level, and for legal immigrants with incomes below 133% of the poverty level.
Yesterday, a legislative briefing with a panel of experts was convened in the Capitol building to go over the idea. The briefing was co-sponsored by the Senate Committee on Health and by the California HealthCare Foundation. CHCF publishes California Healthline.
Health Care Providers Gearing Up To Roll Out Accountable Care Organizations in California
Don Crane of the California Association of Physician Groups, Kristen Miranda of Blue Shield of California and Leah Newkirk of the California Academy of Family Physicians spoke with California Healthline about efforts to create accountable care organizations in California.
Sequels to ObamaCare: ScottCare, ShumlinCare and More Take Stage
As states implement the federal health care law, three new governors are carrying out bold health reforms of their own — and possibly setting a template for similar decisions across the nation.
Balance of Better Care, Privacy in Federal ACO Proposal
CMS’ proposal to share Medicare data with accountable care organizations reflects the important role of health information in health care delivery reform and has important implications for patient privacy.
Exchange Timeline Runs From Ambitious to Over the Top
Setting up California’s health benefit exchange is a monumental task. With so many systems to create and coordinate, the complexity and scope of the project makes the end-of-2013 deadline seem impossibly soon.
Don Berwick Wants You To Judge the Quality, Not Quantity, of His Service
Much of the news coverage — and political debate — on the federal health care overhaul has focused on long-term changes to health coverage. Although CMS head Don Berwick’s full quality agenda has received less of the spotlight, his plans are intended to immediately affect millions while saving billions.
Joint Ventures on Table for County-Run Plans
A number of county-run health insurance plans, such as the San Francisco Health Plan or the Santa Clara Family Health Plan, could find themselves at a disadvantage when the state’s health benefits exchange goes into operation in 2014.
A new bill, SB 222 by state Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara), is aimed at addressing the problem before it arises.
“In 2014 people will be required to obtain health insurance,” Alquist said at a Senate health committee hearing this week. “Local health plans and county-run health plans have the potential to provide coverage, but they lack the clear statutory authority to form joint ventures or to initiate joint coverage agreements on a regional basis. This bill provides authority for local health plans to provide health insurance coverage to individuals and groups on a regional basis.”