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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.

Paper Jam: California’s Medicaid Program Hits ‘Print’ When The Feds Need Info

In the shadow of Silicon Valley, the hub of the world’s digital revolution, California officials still submit their records to the feds justifying billions in Medicaid spending the old-fashioned way: on paper.

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New Medicare Advantage Tool To Lower Drug Prices Puts Crimp In Patients’ Choices

Starting next year, Medicare Advantage plans will be able to add restrictions on expensive, injectable drugs administered by doctors to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, macular degeneration and other serious diseases.

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California Grapples With Growing Physician Shortage For Low-Income Patients

When Paul Lyons opened a primary-care practice in the Palm Springs area for low-income patients, the need was clear.

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More Than Half of Consumers Don’t Understand Basic Aspects of the Healthcare System, Survey Finds

Improving consumers’ healthcare literacy could save the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars per year, according to a new analysis from Accenture.

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Three File Suit Against Dignity Health, Company That Runs Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of three Dignity Health nurses claiming they were required to perform off-the-clock work and were subject to impermissible rounding of time entered on timecard software and an employee monitoring system hospital staff use to record hours worked.

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Confusion Leaves Low-Income Children In Health Care Limbo

Tania Alvarado’s 13-year-old daughter doesn’t smile much anymore. She doesn’t want anyone to see her front teeth, which are so crowded they’re nearly growing atop one another. The crowding makes it painful to eat; it also embarrasses her.

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CaliforniaChoice Adds Oscar Health to Portfolio

CHOICE Administrators announced today it is adding Oscar Health to its CaliforniaChoice small business, multi-carrier private exchange. With the addition of Oscar, employers with up to 100 employees have access to eight health plans through CaliforniaChoice.

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Ban Health Insurance That Doesn’t Cover Pre-Existing Conditions? Jerry Brown to Decide

California is poised to become the first state in the nation to ban cheap, short-term health insurance plans pushed by the Trump administration as a low-cost alternative to Obamacare.

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Insurance Commissioner Announces New Workers’ Compensation Program for California’s Cannabis Industry

 Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today a new workers' compensation insurance program for California's cannabis industry. The program was created by Atlas General Insurance Services to serve businesses and workers in the cannabis industry.

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Health Plans, Pharmacy Middlemen Push Back Against California Drug Pricing Bill

A bill that aims to regulate drug price negotiations between pharmacies and middlemen working on behalf of health plans in California is headed to Gov. Jerry Brown after a contentious battle and some late-session drama.

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