Latest California Healthline Stories
AARP Members in California ‘Strongly Support’ Reform
AARP has released surveys of its members’ attitudes on the House health care reform package as part of the group’s efforts to rally support for Democratic overhaul plans. The surveys show that compared with AARP members nationwide California AARP members feel like they’ve heard more about reform efforts and more strongly support reform.
Members of Congress Divided on House Bill’s Implications for California
A number of California Democrats trumpeted the approval of the House bill and immediately started listing what the bill would do for their constituents back home. Republican lawmakers saw things differently, warning that the bill would force California to change its medical malpractice laws.
Reform Could Shift Medicare Money Away From California
Realigning regional spending on Medicare could help pay for national health reform by saving $1.42 trillion over the next 15 years, but some parts of the country — including California — stand to pay a higher Medicare toll for reform than others.
Elements of House Health Care Reform Bill Echo California Efforts
The House’s health care reform legislation includes provisions reminiscent of legislation Gov. Schwarzenegger has vetoed, such as measures aimed at curbing rescissions and clamping down on insurers’ administrative costs. That said, language in the House bill aims to address concerns Schwarzenegger and other governors have raised about states’ share of the cost of proposals to expand Medicaid.
White House Talks Up Cost-Savings Plans To Bolster Reform
Officials in the Obama administration are firing back against questions that Democratic health care reform proposals do not adequately address rising health care costs. For instance, Anthem Blue Cross of California’s parent company put out a study this month projecting that the plans would result in higher premiums.
House Panel, HHS Look at Health Reform and Small Businesses
A House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing looked at the hurdles small businesses encounter offering health insurance benefits to workers, and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a report explaining what the administration expects health care reform proposals to do for small firms.
Consumer Advocates, Health Insurers Support Reform Proposals That Boost Preventive Care
Tom Epstein of Blue Shield of California, Robert Pearl of the Permanente Medical Group and Anthony Wright of Health Access spoke with California Healthline about health care reform proposals designed to promote wellness.
California’s Senators Face Tough Calls as Health Reform Bill Advances
In recent days, Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have thrown their support behind a public option and raised questions about a proposed tax on medical device makers. Now that a health care reform bill has cleared the Senate Finance Committee, Boxer and Feinstein will be pressed to state their positions on other elements of reform legislation.
Studies on Health Care Spending Fuel Reform Debate
The Obama administration is touting data from an IOM report that the U.S. health care system is riddled with more than $800 billion in excess costs each year, but Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other senators are questioning whether current proposals are really going to deliver the reforms that are needed.
Health Care Reform Debate Roiled by Concerns Over Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants
Immigration attorney Sonal Ambegaokar, Anthony Cava of DHCS, Kathleen King of the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation and Yeh Ling-Ling of Alliance for a Sustainable USA discussed the debate with California Healthline.