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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.

Anthem Succeeds In Bid to Cut Costs

Sometimes, paying more upfront can cost less in the long run. That has been the case for a collaborative effort of the state’s largest for-profit health insurance company and a handful of doctor groups that worked to coordinate the care of 200,000 patients with multiple chronic conditions. Today, Anthem Blue Cross of California is announcing ...

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California Senate Approves Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants

A proposal to expand health care to Californians in the country illegally cleared the Senate on Tuesday, passing on a 28-11 vote and heading to the Assembly. Senate Bill 4 would allow undocumented immigrants to purchase health insurance on the state exchange, pending a federal waiver, and enroll eligible children under the age of 19 ...

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44% of Covered California Customers Report Difficulty Paying Premiums

A new survey shows that 44% of Covered California policyholders find it difficult paying their monthly premiums for Obamacare coverage. And a similar percentage of uninsured Californians say the high cost of coverage is the main reason they go without health insurance. The issue of just how much people can afford will loom large as ...

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Western Dental Says Denti-Cal is Broken, Starts Closing Doors to New Patients

Western Dental will begin to close the door to new Denti-Cal patients next month - and will shut some offices altogether - as the company reassesses participation in the state dental program for the poor.

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Health Insurance Makes Big Shift to Managed-Care Regulator

A big shift in the individual health insurance market in 2014 gave the California Department of Managed Health Care the most enrollment in all three sectors of commercial insurance.

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Jerry Brown’s Proposal to Expand Health Pan Tax Sputtering

Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to make more managed care organizations pay a state tax - one likely to be passed on to consumers - is meeting resistance at the Capitol.

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Individual Enrollment Tops Small-Biz Health Coverage in California

The number of Californians with health coverage through small employers dropped below enrollment in the individual market for the first time, a new study shows.

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Covered California to Cap Patient Costs for High-Priced Specialty Drugs

Covered California board members voted Thursday to become the first state health care exchange in the nation to impose price caps on high-cost specialty drugs to treat conditions such as hepatitis C and HIV.

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Multi-Carrier Private Exchange Eclipses California SHOP

Covered California's Small Employer Health Options Program (SHOP) is growing, but a private-sector competitor to the state-run HIX is growing even faster.

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Audit Questions Medicaid Billing by 335 California Dentists

A California dentist who treats children under Medicaid billed for more than 1,000 services a day for almost 100 days in 2012.

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