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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.

Covered California’s Outreach Budget Is Huge, Despite Federal Cuts

The Obamacare-created public health exchange is ramping up outreach, especially to younger people and minority groups.

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Senators Call for Crackdown on Pharmaceutical Industry “Revolving Door”

Seven Democratic U.S. senators on Thursday introduced legislation designed to slow the “revolving door” between federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the pharmaceutical companies they regulate.

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Children’s Health Bill Clears House as States Struggle to Keep Programs Afloat

The House passed a bill on Friday that would provide five years of funds for the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program, over vehement objections from Democrats who opposed the way it would be financed.

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California Health Insurers Make Billions Through Medicaid

Medicaid is rarely associated with getting rich. The patients are poor, the budgets tight and payments to doctors often paltry.

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Kaiser Permanente Records Strong Growth in Q3 Operations

Operating revenue for the Oakland, Calif.-based hospital and health plan giant climbed 11.5% to $18.3 billion from the prior-year quarter. In the same period, operating income grew 20.9% to $850 million. 

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Open Enrollment Starts Tomorrow to Consumer Confusion

The calls from Bay Area consumers worried about their 2018 Obamacare health care plans keep filling up Kelley Filice Jensen’s voicemail.

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CVS-Aetna? Expect More Strange Bedfellows As Competition from Amazon Grows

If CVS Health’s reported $66-billion bid to acquire health insurer Aetna is approved, it could give the retail pharmacy chain an infusion of customers through Aetna’s members and more leverage when it negotiates drug prices.

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Kevin de Leon Vows to Back Medicare for All, Signaling Key Issue in 2018 Senate Campaign

State Senate leader Kevin de León's opening salvo in the U.S. Senate race against Sen. Dianne Feinstein takes on one of the main frustrations progressives have voiced with her, a refusal to support single-payer health care.

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How Does California Fit Into the Opioid Crisis?

As President Trump this morning is expected to declare the opioids epidemic a public-health emergency, the Golden State can truly relate.

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Acute Confusion As Exchange Enrollment Nears

If the comments on Covered California’s Facebook page are any indication, you’re all suffering from acute health insurance confusion.

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