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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.

Bill Extends, Expands Benefits Review

Who doesn't like Ch-Burp? The much-beloved acronym CHBRP, belonging to the California Health Benefits Review Program, will get a longer life and expanded powers under a bill passed by the Senate Appropriations committee on Monday.

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Many Small Firms May Face Health Insurance Rate Changes Under Obamacare

In recent years, as millions of individual consumers coped with new and different kinds of health insurance, small businesses got some breathing room.

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Calif. Bureau Proposes Lower Advisory Workers’ Comp Premium Rate

On Monday, the California Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau recommended decreasing the current workers' compensation advisory pure premium rate, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.

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Californians Increasingly Visiting Hospital ERs for Non-Injury Care

Californians are increasingly likely to visit a hospital emergency room for complex medical problems rather than an injury, according to new research.

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Democrats Push to Extend Health, Legal Rights to Immigrants

Responding to federal inaction over immigration reform, California Democrats on Tuesday will propose a package of 10 bills that would extend health care, legal rights and business protection to immigrants who are illegally living in the state.

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Full Plate of Health Care Bills Pending as legislature Reconvenes

The state Legislature reconvenes on Monday after having a week off for spring recess and the health care agenda is full.

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Medi-Cal Rolls Could Swell Under Obama’s Deportation Relief Plan

President Obama's executive actions on immigration, which have sparked a fierce political backlash nationwide, could also provide an unlikely boost for another of his goals: increasing health insurance signups.

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Blue Shield of California is Under New Pressure to Lower Rates

With billions of dollars in reserve, nonprofit insurer Blue Shield of California is facing new pressure to offer better prices for its policies.

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Unions, Retirees Blast Jerry Brown’s Sate Worker Medical Plan

Unions lined up Wednesday to oppose Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to offer high-deductible medical coverage to state employees, suggesting it could hurt workers’ health instead of improving it. “We think that high-deductible plans are a very bad thing,” SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker said during a Senate subcommittee hearing into Brown’s plan. Meanwhile, state ...

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Covered California Sends 120,000 Corrected Tax Forms, Thousands More Coming

California’s Obamacare exchange has sent out 120,000 corrected tax forms, but it said tens of thousands of other consumers are still waiting for their information. Peter Lee, executive director of the Covered California exchange, said those remaining households should get tax forms related to their health-law subsidies by the end of March. “We are very ...

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