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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.

Huge Coalition Launches $10M Media Campaign to Hike Medi-Cal Rates

A coalition of health care, business, consumer and labor groups will spend $10 million over the next eight weeks on a media campaign to convince state leaders to raise Medi-Cal rates.

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States Lose $721B If SCOTUS Rules Against Obamacare

Next month, the Supreme Court will decide whether Obamacare enrollees in states that did not set up their own exchanges will continue to have access to federal subsidies.

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Brown Unveils Revised Budget Plan; Health Advocates React

On Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) released the revised version of his fiscal year 2015-2016 budget plan, which includes several health care proposals, the Los Angeles Times reports.

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State Pressured To Explain Why it Revoked Blue Shield’s Not-for-Profit Exemption

A consumer advocacy organization has launched a campaign to get state officials to explain why they revoked Blue Shield of California's tax-exempt not-for-profit status last year.

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Amid Slower Growth, California’s Obamacare Exchange Cuts Proposed Spending

After using most of $1 billion in federal start-up money, California's Obamacare exchange is preparing to go on a diet.

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1 in 4 Adults Had Insurance But Still Couldn’t Afford Medical Care

More than 1 in 4 adults who bought insurance for themselves or their families last year had to skip needed medical care because they couldn't afford it, according to a study released Thursday by Families USA, a consumer health group.

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Coalitions Form To Get Slice of Budget

Two coalitions of health care providers, advocates and medical groups announced their formation in the past week and said they would try to ramp up pressure for a couple of key budget issues as the state budget talks intensify.

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Blue Shield’s $1.25-Billion Deal for Care1st Faces More State Scrutiny

Bowing to demands from consumer advocates, state regulators will hold a hearing next month on Blue Shield of California's proposed acquisition of Medicaid insurer Care1st for $1.25 billion.

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Jones Recommends 10.2% Cut in Workers’ Compensation Rate

State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones (D) has adopted a workers' compensation pure premium rate that is more than 10% lower than the current rate, the Insurance Journal reports.

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Illegal Immigrants Would Get Medi-Cal Under California Bill

The backbreaking work in California's chili pepper fields and cherry orchards wasn't so noticeable when farmworker Antolin Gonzalez was young.

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