Health Care Reform
Fraud fear raised in California’s health exchange
by Judy Lin, Associated Press Writer, Daily Democrat
As California prepares to launch its health care exchange, consumer groups are worried the uninsured could fall victim to fraud, identity theft or other crimes at the hands of some of the very people who are supposed to help them enroll. Read More ›
UnitedHealth to exit individual insurance market in California
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
The move by UnitedHealth, the nation’s largest health insurer, will force thousands of customers with individual policies to find new coverage. Read More ›
Aetna will exit California’s individual health insurance market
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
Aetna said it would stop selling individual health insurance policies in California next month, and nearly 50,000 existing policyholders will have to find new coverage by January. Read More ›
House panel to probe alleged seizure of California medical records by IRS
by Elise Viebeck, The Hill
A House committee launched another probe of the IRS after a lawsuit alleged that the agency improperly seized millions of personal medical records in California. Read More ›
Doctors brace for pain as 10% cut to Medi-Cal rates looms
by Anna Gorman and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
The cuts, affecting physicians, dentists and pharmacists, were enacted in 2011 to counter a budget deficit. Now medical providers want to restore funds for poor Californians. Read More ›
California health exchange reveals premium costs
by Jim Sanders , Sacramento Bee
Californians have now received the bottom line on which insurance firms will sell policies on the state’s new health-care exchange this fall and how much those premiums will cost. Read More ›
California’s health exchange to serve as voter registration hub
by Jim Sanders, Sacramento Bee
Millions of Californians who contact the state’s new health exchange to buy insurance will be given the opportunity to register to vote, too. Read More ›
New Medicare program penalizes hospitals with high re-admit rates
by Deborah Schoch, KPBS.org
A new Medicare program that punishes hospitals with high patient readmissions is forcing administrators to improve how patients are cared for even after they are wheeled out the hospital doors. Read More ›
Statewide tour to close the “Walmart Loophole” kicks off in West Sacramento
by Steve Smith, California Progress Report
Walmart shoppers probably didn’t expect to be greeted by taxpayers protesting the Walmart Loophole, which allows large companies like Walmart to avoid their responsibilities to pay their fair share for their workers’ health care. Read More ›
Annual Medicare, Medicaid spending in California tops $100 billion
by Phillip Reese, Sacramento Bee
Government health spending in California now exceeds the size of the entire state general fund budget. Read More ›