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.
Medicare Advantage health plans are blasting a government proposal this week that would keep their reimbursement rates flat next year while making other payment changes. But some health policy experts say the plan could help reduce billions of dollars in overcharges that have been common in the program for more than a decade. On Jan. ...
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is making California the front line in the resistance to the Trump administration’s revamped health care policies under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in what experts see as a politically savvy move that previews what a “Balkanized” public health landscape could look like as states lose faith in federal agencies. ...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule Thursday afternoon, clamping down on states’ Medicaid provider taxes. The changes to address what the agency has described as “loopholes” and “a Medicaid financing gimmick” were floated last May in a proposed rule and since codified by the summer’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. CMS said ...
More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care workers walked off the job early Monday, launching an open-ended strike across California and Hawaii that could disrupt operations at dozens of hospitals and hundreds of clinics. The workers, represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, say the strike was triggered by ...
On January 15, 2026, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) issued new guidance in All-Plan Letter (APL) 26-002 clarifying the obligation of health care service plans, including Medi-Cal managed care plans, to reimburse providers for COVID-19 testing and immunizations. California Medical Association (CMA)-sponsored Senate Bill 510 (2021) requires health plans and insurers to reimburse providers ...
California’s two largest nonprofit health systems are positioning themselves for major expansion and strategic growth this year, with newly appointed leaders focused on mergers, acquisitions and national partnerships. Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente named Jim Marcotte vice president of mergers and acquisitions and partnership development strategy implementation. Mr. Marcotte previously served as executive director of financial planning and analysis ...
California health care advocates, labor unions and progressive lawmakers are urging the governor and the Legislature to find new money to fund medical care and other social services for millions of low-income and disabled Californians. Their coalition, known as “Fight for Our Health,” demanded Wednesday on the Capitol steps that the Legislature and soon-to-be lame ...
Flu hospitalizations are increasing across California, with projections showing further rises in the coming weeks, state officials warned Tuesday – though forecasts indicate this flu season may not be as bad as last year’s, which was one of the worst in at least a decade. “We are seeing increasing flu cases and (hospital) admissions in ...
Many low-income Californians prescribed wildly popular weight loss drugs lost their coverage for the medications at the start of the new year. Health officials are recommending diet and exercise as alternatives to heavily advertised weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, advice experts say is unrealistic. “Of course he tried eating well and everything, but ...
“This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.” When Gov. Gavin Newsom declared today that the state will likely receive an extra $42.3 billion in tax revenue over the next three years, thus alleviating a stubborn budget deficit, the inimitable Yogi Berra’s famous observation came to mind. “It’s like déjà vu all ...