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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.

The Doctor Will See You Now – Online. Virtual House Calls Offered Widely In Sacramento Region

House calls are making a comeback, with a virtual twist: Three of the Sacramento region's four major health providers – Kaiser Permanente, UC Davis Health and now Sutter Health – offer video visits with primary care providers.

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California Lawmakers Want To Crack Down On Fraud At Drug Rehab Centers. Will It Work?

There are a whole host of problems with the drug rehab industry, according to a major investigation by the Southern California News Group: No degree, medical or otherwise, is required to get a facility license; and some centers are administering subpar, and even unnecessary, care and then billing insurance companies for it in the hopes of earning high reimbursements.

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Calif. Exchange Chief Sees No Rate Impact From Latest Trump Challenge To ACA

Covered California’s premiums are expected to rise significantly next year, but the head of the state’s insurance exchange said the Trump administration’s legal bid to dismantle protections for people with preexisting medical conditions will likely not contribute to the increases.

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California Moves to Clear Coffee of Cancer-Risk Stigma

California officials, having concluded coffee drinking is not a risky pastime, are proposing a regulation that will essentially tell consumers of America's favorite beverage they can drink up without fear.

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Could California Shape The Fate Of The Affordable Care Act In November?

In the state that’s leading the opposition to many of President Donald Trump’s health policies, California voters will face a stark choice on the November ballot: keep up the resistance or fall in line.

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Word & Brown Awarded New Large Group Contract by Kaiser Permanente

Following the announcement last fall by Kaiser Permanente naming Word & Brown General Agency a general agent for California small group business, Kaiser Permanente has now awarded a large group contract to Word & Brown for Fresno and San Diego.

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GOP Embraces Single-Payer Healthcare Attack in California

Republicans are seizing on Democratic demands for a single-payer health-care system as an attack line in California, arguing that candidates backing the issue spearheaded by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are out of step with their districts.

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$200 Billion California Budget Deal Rejects Health Care, Tax Breaks for Undocumented

Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders struck a $200 billion budget deal on Friday that rejected two proposals that would have expanded access to health care and tax breaks to undocumented Californians.

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Commissioner Jones Announces Legal Action Against Life Insurers to Protect 50,000 Policyholders

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today the California Department of Insurance has served an Order to Show Cause and Accusation against Accordia Life and Annuity Company and Athene Annuity and Life Company for failing to service over 50,000 policies issued to California consumers and imperiling the benefits to which they are entitled.

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California Assembly Passes Bill Expanding Medicaid to Immigrants

California's General Assembly has passed a bill to become the first state to extend Medicaid coverage to immigrants, regardless of their status.

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