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.
Blue Shield of California is cutting broker commissions for new enrollments into Medicare Advantage PPO plans in Alameda, Orange and San Diego counties, effective July 1. The new policy does not affect commission payments of existing membership, according to a June memo sent to brokers. Several large insurers have cut MA commissions recently, including UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health ...
Genetic testing company 23andMe’s recent sale to a research institute “does not comply” with California’s landmark genetic privacy law, state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said Monday. What happened: Bonta’s office said the terms of 23andMe’s sale, approved Friday by a federal bankruptcy judge, run afoul of the state’s Genetic Information Privacy Act, which requires companies to ...
“This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.” Citing an investigation by The Markup and CalMatters, lawmakers in the House of Representatives are questioning why California’s state health insurance exchange shared sensitive health data with LinkedIn. In a letter sent last week to Jessica Altman, executive director of the state’s exchange, the lawmakers write ...
It can take a long time to build anything in California. The governor’s office is trying to move fast on mental health projects funded by a new bond.
The California Legislature has just a few days to pass a 2025-26 state budget to meet the state constitution’s June 15 deadline. The budget they enact may bear only a passing resemblance to what will eventually, perhaps many months later, become a complete fiscal plan.
The California Chamber of Commerce says weakening pharmacy networks will drive up employers' drug benefits costs.
Facing higher healthcare costs, Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing adding an “asset test” for applicants for Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services. The test would mean Californians would not be eligible if their assets total more than $2,000.
Sutter Health, a 24-hospital health system based in Sacramento, Calif., is investing $23 million to expand primary and behavioral health care across Del Norte and Lake counties. In a June 2 news release, the health system said the investments aim to expand access and close critical care gaps for patients in rural communities. Six things to know, ...
GOP lawmakers have settled on a strategy, rather than lowering the income eligibility limit for coverage — Trump’s bill will instead require applicants to provide proof of their work hours and apply for specific exceptions, creating new barriers for individuals to maintain insurance.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proposed that California roll back health care for immigrants without legal status, saying the state needed to cut benefits for some to maintain core services across the board. It’s a striking reversal for the Democrat, who had promised universal health care and called health coverage for immigrants the moral and ethical thing to ...