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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 Next Obamacare Battleground: Subsidies For Out-Of-Pocket Costs

When Republicans pulled their Affordable Care Act replacement bill last Friday, Lauren Lake’s primary reaction was relief.

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California Officials, Insurers: Health Care “An Ongoing Battle”

Buoyed by Congress’ failed attempt last week to replace the Affordable Care Act, California officials, health advocates and insurance executives are pressing forward on a new phase of resistance against GOP efforts to weaken the health care law.

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Health Subsidies for Low Earners Will Continue Through 2017, G.O.P Says

Senior House Republicans said Thursday that they expected the federal government to continue paying billions of dollars in subsidies to health insurance companies to keep low-income people covered under the Affordable Care Act for the rest of this year — and perhaps for 2018 as well.

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Trump Administration to Continue Obamacare Insurer Payments During House Lawsuit

The Trump administration will continue ObamaCare's insurer payments while a House lawsuit runs its course.

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Trump’s Effort To Lure Consumers To Exchanges Could Bring Skimpier Plans

Will opening the door to cheaper, skimpier marketplace plans with higher deductibles and copays attract consumers and insurers to the exchanges next year? That’s what the Trump administration is betting on.

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Visualizing Health Policy: U.S. Public Opinion on Health Care Reform, 2017

This Visualizing Health Policy infographic spotlights public opinion on health reform in the United States as of 2017. The largest percentage of Democrats and Republicans give top priority to lowering out-of-pocket costs for health care.

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California Bill Would Reduce Anti-Competitive Practices by Largest Hospital Chains

A Bay Area legislator is trying to level the playing field among hospital chains, particularly in Northern California, where he said studies show consolidations have led to some of the highest healthcare prices for consumers and employers in the state.

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Jerry Brown on Paying for Single Payer “How do you do that?”

Gov. Jerry Brown stuck to his skeptical view on matters of broad healthcare reform on Wednesday, dismissing the idea of a universal health care system as something akin to a financial impossibility.

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How Agents Can Deploy Soft Benefits to Win the Talent War

Insurance agencies that stress “soft” benefits have the upper hand in recruiting workers in today’s competitive job market.

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Claiming Momentum is on their Side, California Lawmakers Try Again to Require More Transparency on Drug Prices

California Democrats, labor unions, health insurers and consumer advocacy groups — along with newly joined backer Tom Steyer, the billionaire activist — are restarting their effort to shed more light on prescription drug prices after a similar measure sputtered last year.

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