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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.

Deal Reached To Get California Children Back In Classrooms

The majority of California’s 6.1 million public school students could be back in the classroom by April under new legislation announced Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders. Critics panned the plan as inadequate.

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California’s Vaccine Sites Don’t All Require Proof Of Eligibility, Leaving Room For Line Jumpers

When Doug Garfinkel, a San Francisco teacher, walked into Walgreens last week to get his first coronavirus shot, he was surprised no one asked for identification or proof that he was the educator he said he was when he made his appointment online. Garfinkel, whose profession became eligible for vaccination last week, said he understands ...

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One Medical’s Coronavirus Vaccine Practices Spark Congressional Investigation

The consequences are deepening for concierge health care provider One Medical following an NPR investigation that found the company administered COVID-19 vaccinations to those with connections to leadership, as well as ineligible patients. The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis is launching its own investigation into the San Francisco-based company’s practices, NPR has learned. The probe ...

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Significant Deficiencies Uncovered In $120m Covid-19 Testing Facility Opened By California Governor Gavin Newsom In October

On October 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a new $120 million, 134,000 sq. foot coronavirus testing facility in Valencia, north of L.A. “This new laboratory will allow California to ensure its testing capacity is timely, equitable and cost-effective – just when Californians need it most,” Newsom said at the opening. At the time, Newsom boasted that the facility had been ...

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New Vaccine Delivery System Launches In Parts Of California, Including Riverside County

California’s new system of delivering, tracking and scheduling coronavirus vaccines is being rolled out in select counties — including Riverside County — a first step in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to smooth out what has been a confusing and disjointed rollout hampered by limited national supply.

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California Will Begin Setting Aside 10% Of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses For Teachers

California is planning to start setting aside 10% of the COVID-19 vaccine the state receives each week to vaccinate teachers, day care workers and other school employees in the hopes of getting more students back in the classroom. “It must be done, and it must be done much sooner than the current path we are ...

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California Legislators Approve $7.6-Billion COVID-19 Package, Including $600 Stimulus Checks

Californians who qualify for a $600 state stimulus payment could see the money arrive as soon as a month after filing their tax returns under a $7.6-billion COVID-19 economic relief package approved Monday by the state Legislature. Crafted by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders last week, the pandemic assistance plan also includes more than ...

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California Aims To More Than Double Vaccination Rate In New Partnership With Blue Shield

California aims to vaccinate up to 3 million people a week by March 1 — more than double its current rate — under a distribution contract with Blue Shield that took effect Monday. The goal was set even as counties continued to face frustrating supply problems.

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CaliforniaChoice Launches New Website as First Milestone in Digitization Strategy

CHOICE Administrators announced today the launch of its redesigned website for CaliforniaChoice, America’s largest multi-carrier private health exchange for small business. This is a key milestone in the organization’s larger digitization strategy, which seeks to improve processes, including enrollment and renewals, for customers.

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Covered California Launched A New TV Ad Campaign To Reach Uninsured

Covered California launched a new television ad campaign on Monday to reach uninsured Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ads support Covered California’s new special-enrollment period, which started on Feb. 1 and runs through May 15, to let uninsured Californians know that they still have time to sign up for health insurance. “Taking care of ...

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