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California Watch

News stories in this section spotlight activities in California, including actions by the state Assembly and state Senate; proposed legislation; regulators like the Department of Managed Health Care and Department of Insurance; and the state ACA exchange, Covered California.

California’s New Transparency Law Reveals Steep Rise In Wholesale Drug Prices

Drugmakers fought hard against California’s groundbreaking drug price transparency law, passed in 2017. Now, state health officials have released their first report on the price hikes those drug companies sought to shield.

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More Middle-Income Californians Can Now Get Health Insurance Subsidies

Open enrollment for Covered California, the state marketplace that sells subsidized health insurance to Californians who do not get insurance through their employer, begins Tuesday and ends Jan. 31.

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Signing Up for Medi-Cal or Covered California: Everything You Need to Know Before Enrolling

Starting in January, Californians will be required to sign up for health insurance or face a $695 tax penalty under the new state mandate.

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Extent Of Health Coverage Gains From California Gig Worker Law Uncertain

A new California law that reclassifies some independent contractors as employees, requiring they be offered a range of benefits and worker protections, will likely expand health insurance coverage in the state, health policy experts say.

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Drug Companies Conspire to Keep Prices High, Will Newsom Disrupt ‘Pay for Delay’?

It’s shocking how far pharmaceutical companies go to keep drug prices high. Take, for example, a tactic known as “pay for delay.” It allows pharmaceutical companies to keep cheaper generic versions of their drugs off of the market.

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California Issuers May Push Off-Exchange Enrollees Toward Exchange

Managers of Covered California say participating health plans will be encouraging off-exchange enrollees who qualify for exchange subsidies to switch to exchange coverage.

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Medi-Cal’s Outdated Computer Enrollment Systems Can Leave Patients Without Coverage When They Need It Most, Experts Say

Sylvia Valenzuela was in bed for two months early in her pregnancy because of severe nausea and vomiting caused by a rare condition. At a time when she desperately needed ongoing medical care, the Fresno resident says she suddenly lost her Medi-Cal coverage through no fault of her own.

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California Bill May Have Ramifications for Telehealth Reimbursement

In late September, the California state senate approved a bill, AB-744, that if passed would result in telehealth being reimbursed at the same rate as an in-person doctor's visit. The bill is expected to be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, and could eventually have ripple effects that touch telehealth reimbursement across the country.

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44-Year Political Battle Flares Anew

California’s longest-running single-issue political battle, over limits on damages in medical malpractice lawsuits, is about to heat up again.

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6 Employer Open Enrollment Trends to Watch

In the lead-up to open enrollment, the National Business Group on Health (NBGH) has identified six trends for employers to watch as workers gear up to choose their health benefits.

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