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.
California's health insurance exchange extended its deadline for consumers who want Obamacare coverage in effect beginning Jan. 1.
Seizing on the massive expansion in Medicaid, Blue Shield of California has agreed to acquire Care1st, a Monterey Park-based health plan with more than 500,000 patients.
Many Californians eligible for Medi-Cal or Covered California -- particularly in families of mixed immigration status -- have been reluctant to seek coverage.
When Olivia Papa signed up for a new health plan last year, her insurance company assigned her to a primary care doctor.
Covered California has enlisted 14 trade groups - including the California Medical Association and California Hospital Association - to urge health providers to promote health insurance during open enrollment for the state health benefit exchange.
As the California Legislature began its new session on Monday, first-time and returning lawmakers introduced a number of health-related bills, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports (Rosenhall/White, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 12/1).
California health officials during an Assembly health committee hearing said the state is prepared to respond to an Ebola case, the Elk Grove Citizen reports (Gold, Elk Grove Citizen, 11/25).
President Barack Obama’s executive order to spare some immigrants from deportation has galvanized Democrats, immigration groups and health care advocates in California to push for expanding health coverage to a segment of the population that remains uninsured.
California's health exchange is leaning on insurance agents to enroll thousands of people in Obamacare coverage. Trouble is, some agents haven't been paid for months.
Medical Board of California officials say they plan to investigate whether drugmakers' payments have inappropriately influenced doctors who prescribe psychiatric medication to children in California's foster care system, the San Jose Mercury News reports (de Sá, San Jose Mercury News, 11/24).