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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.

California Gov. Newsom selects Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) selected on Tuesday his longtime political ally and current California secretary of state, Alex Padilla, to fill the U.S. Senate seat when Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris steps down next month.

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California Unemployment Fraud Amid COVID-19 Pandemic May Total $2 Billion, Bank Of America Says

Bank of America estimated Monday that fraud in California’s unemployment benefits system could total $2 billion, and said it has identified 640,000 accounts with suspicious activity that should be investigated to determine whether they are bogus and should be shut down.

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Nearly 1 Million Californians May Have To Pay Back Some Of Their Unemployment Benefits

Right before the holidays, thousands of self-employed and gig workers just found out they may have to pay back unemployment benefits they have already received. It is a crisis, just before the holidays, many have already spent the money on living expenses. Now nearly one million workers were just notified they might have to pay ...

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DMHC Directs Health Plans To Remove Administrative Burdens On Hospitals During COVID-19 Surge

The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) today directed health plans regulated by the Department to remove administrative burdens on hospitals during the COVID-19 surge. This includes directing plans to take immediate steps to reduce or remove unnecessary barriers to the efficient admission, transfer, and/or discharge of health plan enrollees. “Hospitals and providers are ...

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California’s COVID Enforcement Strategy: Education Over Citations

Nearly six months since Gov. Gavin Newsom promised to target businesses that are flagrantly violating public health orders to control the spread of COVID-19, California regulators have issued just 424 citations and suspended two business licenses as of Monday, according to data from 10 state regulatory and law enforcement agencies. Instead of strictly penalizing businesses ...

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L.A. Restaurateur Sues Newsom Over Outdoor Dining Ban

A Los Angeles restaurateur is suing Gov. Gavin Newsom in federal court, seeking to overturn a ban on outdoor dining implemented across vast swaths of California in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill in Sherman Oaks. The owner, Angela ...

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California Opens Field Hospitals To Cope With Crush Of Coronavirus Cases

With intensive care capacity buckling under an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases, California has opened four field hospitals where dozens of patients are being treated and the state is bringing in hundreds of additional health care providers. The majority of the state — all of Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley — continued to ...

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California Desperately Searches for More Nurses and Doctors

Since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S., Sara Houze has been on the road — going from one hospital to another to care for COVID-19 patients on the brink of death. A cardiac intensive care nurse from Washington, D.C., with expertise in heart rhythm, airway and pain management, her skills are in great ...

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With Becerra as HHS Pick, California Plots More Progressive Health Care Agenda

Xavier Becerra is fueling California’s most progressive health care plans including a government-run single-payer system at the state level.

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DMHC Reminds Californians Approved COVID-19 Vaccines Will Be Provided At No Cost

The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) issued guidance reminding health plans that all qualified, approved COVID-19 vaccines must be provided with no cost-sharing for health plan enrollees

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