Industry Updates
This broad category includes articles concerning health insurance costs, carrier and health plan news, changing benefits technology, and surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation and others on employee benefits.
New coronavirus cases roughly doubled in California over the last month. Hospitalizations have soared 88%, filling some medical centers close to capacity.
The California coronavirus outlook worsened over the holiday weekend, as hospitalizations continued to rise and more counties were added Sunday to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 watch list, which is now at its highest level since the pandemic began.
The Assembly is suspending its session until further notice following five confirmed COVID-19 cases among lawmakers and employees.
As the coronavirus rages through California’s crowded state prisons, threatening those inside and straining community hospitals, pressure is building on Gov. Gavin Newsom to avert a wider public-health crisis by drastically cutting prison populations — including at San Quentin in Marin County, now home to one of the country’s biggest COVID-19 outbreaks.
The seeds of the latest surge in coronavirus cases in California appear to have been planted around Memorial Day.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $202.1 billion state budget Monday that largely avoids widespread cuts to public services to close a multibillion-dollar deficit caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Covered California, consumers who meet eligibility requirements have more time to sign up for health coverage during the pandemic, the enrollment deadline was extended to July 31.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said that some statistics show reasons for optimism, but the pandemic will linger for some time. He also emphasized that county health officials should call the shots for their counties.
Facing an estimated $54.3 billion budget deficit because of the coronavirus, California lawmakers on Monday approved a state spending plan that rejects most of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed cuts to public education and health care with the hope that Congress will send the state more money by Oct. 1 to cover the shortfall.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s medical mask deal with a Chinese manufacturer will proceed after the company succeeded in obtaining federal safety certification, following two missed deadlines.