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.
As lawmakers scrutinize the nation's pharmacy benefit managers, the California insurer expects to save $500 million in annual drug costs by replacing most of CVS Health's PBM services by January 2025.
A powerful California lawmaker wants to regulate how artificial intelligence systems interact with health plan participants. Assemblymember Mia Bonte, a Democrat who chairs the assembly’s Health Committee, has introduced a bill that would keep the developers and users of AI systems from having the AI systems imply that they are doctors, nurses or other types ...
Sutter Health will invest $1 billion to expand its services across Northern California’s East Bay region, including a new flagship campus in Emeryville. The health system announced Wednesday that the campus will feature a new medical center with up to 200 beds as well as a regional destination for ambulatory care. The plans also leave ...
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators in Sacramento seem to agree: Prescription drug prices are too high. But lawmakers and the second-term governor are at odds over what to do about it, and a recent proposal could trigger one of the biggest health care battles in Sacramento this year.
In an unprecedented collaboration, three leading California health plans — Aetna, Blue Shield of California and Health Net — have united to co-implement a shared value-based payment model under the California Advanced Primary Care Initiative’s Payment Model Demonstration Project. Led by the California Quality Collaborative (CQC) and the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA), the new payment model will span 11 provider ...
The wildfires moving through Southern California have destroyed communities and displaced countless individuals. While the nation’s first responders are tirelessly working to contain and neutralize the devastation, many employers are grappling with how best to provide support for their affected employees. Disaster Assistance to Employees Employers may consider offering the following disaster assistance directly to ...
Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, has hit a record 1.8 million enrollees and the number could climb higher ahead of a Jan. 31 open enrollment deadline, due in large part to enhanced subsidies that have made plans more affordable. But the state’s progress in extending health coverage to all residents could come to ...
As part of our ongoing commitment to provide you with information and resources to assist your clients, colleagues, and others who may need help in connection with the current Southern California wildfires, you should find the following helpful.
Blue Shield Of California Restructures, Launches Health Services Business And Names First Female CEO
The bevy of changes for the massive California nonprofit is meant to improve operations, and should also give Blue Shield a financial leg-up as it competes with well-funded for-profit peers.
Health care centers and medical facilities remain closed as the devastating California wildfires spread. Several health care centers are rescheduling non-emergency procedures.