Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Reform Déjà Vu: Will Federal Efforts Follow State’s Path?
The similarities between California’s health care reform efforts in 2007-2008 and the current push for national health reform are undeniable, but will the outcome be the same? Health policy experts say transparency and bipartisanship are the keys to success.
Most Adolescents Not Getting Preventive Care, UCSF Study Shows
Almost two-thirds of adolescents in the United States don’t get the minimum recommended level of preventive health care services, according to researchers at UC-San Francisco. The authors of the study hope it will boost support for addressing preventive care in health care reform efforts in Washington, D.C., and California.
Republican Sen. Aanestad Puts Forward Market-Based Plan To Rework Health Care in California
Linda Halderman, senior policy adviser for Sen. Sam Aanestad, John Graham of the Pacific Research Institute, Assembly member Dave Jones and Anthony Wright of Health Access discussed the legislation with California Healthline.
Advocates for Uninsured See Opportunity in Bleak Economy
The economic crisis sending the national economy into a tailspin and putting a stranglehold on California is seen by many health advocates as an opportunity to make significant progress toward providing health coverage for millions of uninsured and underinsured.
Kuehl Hands Off California’s Single-Payer Torch to Leno
The legislative campaign for a single-payer health care system is moving into its second decade in California with newly elected state Sen. Mark Leno ready to deal with same governor who opposes the plan and a weakening economy.
Critics Argue for Overhaul, Expansion of California High-Risk Health Insurance Program
Elizabeth Landsberg of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, Anthony Wright of Health Access and Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans spoke to California Healthline about the state’s high-risk insurance program.
Health Care Advocates Warn of ‘Dark Times’ for Latinos
Economic woes in California and across the nation make for a dim outlook for health care efforts for at least the next year, according to health care advocates in California. Recent research indicates that Latinos are at heightened risk of diabetes and face obstacles to care.
Ballot Initiative Filed To Expand Kids’ Coverage
Only weeks after a health care reform plan backed by Gov. Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez was rejected, children’s health care advocates have resurrected an effort to increase the state tobacco tax to help pay for children’s health coverage.
Budget Cuts Could Further Limit Provider Pool for Denti-Cal Enrollees, Groups Say
Liz Snow of the California Dental Association and Carmela Castellano-Garcia of the California Primary Care Association discussed the governor’s proposed changes in the dental program for low-income Californians.
Outlook for Children’s Health Coverage Mixed in California
Children’s advocates are cautiously optimistic about the prospects for compromise health care reform legislation to expand coverage to all California kids, especially after federal funding came through for Healthy Families. But Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts remain a concern.