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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.

Battle Heating Up Over ‘Surprise” Medical Bills

Have you ever gone in for a medical procedure you knew was covered by your health plan, only to be hit weeks later by a large, unexpected bill from a doctor whose name you didn’t even recognize?

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California Regulator Approves Centene-Health Net Deal

California health plan regulators are approving Centene's bid to purchase fellow insurer Health Net.

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Feds Begin Review of California’s Health Plan Tax

The Brown administration this week formally asked the U.S. government to sign off on a revamped tax on health plans that has the primary goal of continuing to pull in more than $1 billion in federal money.

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California Insurance Marketplace Wants To Kick Out Poor-Performing Hospitals

California’s insurance exchange is threatening to cut hospitals from its networks for poor performance or high costs, a novel proposal that is drawing heavy fire from medical providers and insurers.

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California Individual Marketplace May Require Insurers To Pay Agent Commissions

California’s health exchange may require its health plans to pay sales commissions to insurance agents to keep insurers from shunning the sickest and costliest patients.

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Kaiser Permanente’s New Medical School Will Be In Pasadena

Kaiser Permanente is moving forward with its ambitious plan to open a medical school that's more in tune with new technologies and local communities.

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Group Health Approves Acquisition by Kaiser Permanente

Rejecting critics and community concern, voting members of Seattle’s Group Health Cooperative have overwhelmingly agreed to join with the California health-care giant Kaiser Permanente.

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Voter Anger Over Surging Prescription Drug Costs Has Generated A Campaign Issue

Cathy Kerns expected to spend her retirement savings as her friends do: on cruises or other “golden years” indulgences.

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California Adds Cost Data to Report Card on Medical Groups

The state of California is adding cost information to a report card that rates the quality and patient experience scores for major medical groups practicing in the state.

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Speaker Rendon Names New California Assembly Committee Chairs

On Monday, Assemblyman Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, officially became the powerful speaker of the California Assembly. On Thursday, he announced how that power will be distributed.

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