Image by Jacob WackerhausenProposition 35 is a vote for equity in health care because it will bridge gaps and disparities throughout the system while supporting better health outcomes for all our children.
Panel discussion about the impact of California's budget shortfall. L-R: Kristen Hwang, Calmatters; Jess Bartholow, SEIU California; Scott Graves, California Budget and Policy Center; Beth Capell, Health Access California; Michelle Cabrera, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol WeeklyIn a sign of the times, Capitol Weekly’s annual health care conference on Thursday focused broadly on expenses and efficiency, befitting for an American health care system that has become one of the most expensive in the world.
Image by Natalya SambulovaOPINION – Patients in California continue to struggle with balancing high health care costs with other daily essentials. Yet, little-known health industry middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are making it harder for patients to get the care they need by raising costs at the pharmacy counter and threatening the viability of local pharmacies.
Image by Serhej CalkaOPINION – California is at a critical juncture in its mission to enhance health data exchange and transform its health care delivery system. Assembly Bill 1331 (Wood) is a key legislative step to realize the full potential of the Data Exchange Framework (DxF) and address the systemic barriers that hinder effective data sharing across the state, a necessary foundation for better health and well-being for all Californians.
Image by Apichat NoipangOPINION – California’s Office of Healthcare Affordability (OHCA) recently adopted spending targets to slow healthcare spending growth and make it more affordable for Californians. The targets are ambitious and will be difficult to meet.
California health care, image by NiyazzOPINION – I see it all the time in my practice— prior authorization used to be required for only expensive, elective or new procedures, but it is now required for some of the most basic prescription drugs. And the data bears out what physicians are seeing, because while frequency rates of prior authorization denials in the commercial market remains mostly secret, we know that where we do have information – in the Medicaid and Medicare markets – the data paints a worrying picture.
A single payer health care system is the Holy Grail for progressive Californians. But is it realistic or just a pipedream? We put the question to our experts.
Stethoscope and calculator, image by Michail PetrovOPINION – Rising inflation has led to soaring healthcare costs for businesses. Compounding these challenges is SB 598, a bill currently under consideration in the California Legislature that, if enacted, it would further burden businesses, especially small businesses, with additional costs while introducing low-value care into the state’s healthcare system, harming patients across California.
Health care, image by janewsOPINION – Across California, some of our most vulnerable neighbors remain unaware that they need to take action to keep their health care. This isn’t a small group: nearly 16 million Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal, and about 75% of this group must submit the information requested in their renewal packet or they could be disenrolled – that’s a total of almost 12 million people.
Health care delays, image by LightspringOPINION – Long plagued by racism and discrimination, communities of color lag on many healthcare measures. Unfortunately, some insurance companies are erecting extraordinary barriers that will actually delay necessary treatment for patients — and exacerbate inequities.