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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.

House Republicans Offer Proposals for Health Care Changes

House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled new proposals to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's health care law, as Speaker Paul Ryan seeks to showcase a GOP governing agenda amid the tumult of the presidential campaign.

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California Budget: Small Health Gains, Advocates Look to Nov. Ballot For Big-Ticket Items

The $122.5 billion state budget approved last week by California lawmakers will fund a variety of health-related efforts, including training of primary care physicians, dental care for school children and medical interpreters for Medi-Cal, the government-funded insurance program for people with low incomes.

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CalPers Report Raises Concerns About Proposal To Cut Drug Prices

Researchers at one of the nation’s largest public sector health care purchasers weighed in this week with serious concerns about the feasibility of a ballot initiative that seeks to limit how much state programs pay for prescription drugs.

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Study Projects Sharper Increases In Obamacare Premiums for 2017

Next year’s premiums for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act could rise more than in past years in most markets and declines might be rare, according to a preliminary analysis of insurers’ plans.

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California Agency Clears Aetna-Humana Deal As Anthem Still Under Review

Aetna Inc.’s $37 billion deal to buy Humana Inc.was approved by the California Department of Managed Health Care, which said Monday that it could move forward after the company agreed to invest in the state’s health care infrastructure.

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State Legislators Push Bill To Inform Patients Of Drug Company Discount Programs

California lawmakers are lining up in support of a bill that would require health plans to provide information about patient-assistance programs for expensive prescription drugs to enrollees who drop or lose their coverage.

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California Voters Are Becoming More Concerned About Healthcare Costs Than About Whether They Have Insurance

Six years after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, the health reform law has gained acceptance from a majority of California voters, but the cost of getting healthcare remains a major concern, eclipsing worries about having insurance, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll.

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As Hospital Chains Grow, So Do Their Prices For Care

As health care consolidation accelerates nationwide, a new study shows that hospital prices in two of California’s largest health systems were 25 percent higher than at other hospitals around the state.

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Gov. Brown Signs Bill Seeking OK For Exchange To Sell To Immigrants Without Documents

Gov. Jerry Brown Friday signed first-in-the-nation legislation requesting federal approval for the state’s health insurance exchange to sell policies to immigrants living in California illegally.

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Federal Regulators May Try To Limit Short Term and Critical Illness Insurance

Obama administration officials want to limit use of short-term health insurance in the United States to periods of three months or less.

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