Image by HalfpointOPINION – Patients rely on the quality care services provided by pharmacists and pharmacies. On behalf of pharmacies and the patients for whom we provide care, I urge Governor Newsom to sign SB 966, by Senator Scott Wiener, District 11, encompassing San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County.
Steve and Jan SuchilAs he became a fixture in Sacramento’s Capitol community during a 36-year career working on insurance and finance issues in the California Legislature, State executive agencies and the private sector, Steven M. Suchil had a simple formula for success. “To be effective,” he said, “your word has to be your bond.”
tCapitol Briefs: Budgets, insurance and police dogs, oh my! It’s all in the new edition of Capitol Briefs.
Worst Week illustration by Capitol Weekly staffCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Since it’s a short holiday week, we’re just doing a quick Worst Week – back to our regular episodes next week!
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.
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.
Image by TSViPhoto via shutterstockAmerican businesses face constant legal threats, many of which are underwritten by wealthy funders exploiting the judicial system in California and across the country.
Via ShutterstockCalifornians living and working in wildfire-prone areas are familiar with the challenges of finding insurance for their homes and businesses, but all homeowners and businesses could soon feel their pain if the dominos in California’s fragile insurance market continue to fall in an unbalanced way.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: With nearly five decades of advocacy under his belt, there are only a handful of people who have lobbied in Sacramento longer than John Norwood. A lawyer as well as a lobbyist, Norwood has earned a reputation as a hard worker and a straight shooter. We asked him about the changes he’s seen, and the biggest challenges facing California.
A view of downtown Los Angeles seen from the Hollywood hills. (Photo: logoboom, via Shutterstock)OPINION: Perhaps the greatest financial risk faced by Californians today has nothing to do with rising interest rates or a looming recession. Rather, it is the loss of access to products they rely upon to protect their most valuable assets: auto, homeowners and commercial insurance.