California Healthline: Think Tank

Basic Health Program: Good or Bad Idea for California?

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The California Legislature is considering a proposal to create a Basic Health Program in California that would provide low-cost public health insurance for as many as one million Californians who otherwise might not qualify for subsidized coverage. We asked stakeholders and experts what California should do.

How Should California Respond if Part or All of ACA Is Struck Down?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

California, which has embraced and prepared for reform more aggressively than most states, might have the most to lose if the rules change. We asked policymakers and stakeholders how California should respond if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down part or all of the Affordable Care Act.

Should California Reconsider Health Care Districts?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

With the Affordable Care Act poised to dramatically change the state's health care system, should California be reconsidering special health care districts that generate and consume millions of dollars every year? We asked experts to weigh in.

Designing Exchange Framework as Building Begins

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Creating a statewide insurance exchange has been compared to drawing plans for a skyscraper while pouring the foundation -- under a tight deadline. We invited experts and stakeholders to share advice with designers and builders of the California Health Benefit Exchange.

Pre-Reform Pressures Mount for California Hospitals

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

California hospitals, already under significant financial pressure in 2012, may have to contend with two proposed state ballot initiatives that would increase charity care provisions for some hospitals and limit what hospitals can charge patients. We asked stakeholders to weigh in on the initiatives.

How Should California Measure Quality in Health Care?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration earlier this month announced its initial set of health care quality measures in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. A California group recently released its suggestions for meaningful and usable measures. We asked California policymakers and stakeholders how California should measure quality in health care.

What's Best Enrollment Process for Dual Eligibles?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

State officials face a key decision in orchestrating a shift into managed care for more than one million Californians who are beneficiaries of both Medicare and Medi-Cal: How to enroll people in the new plans. We asked stakeholders and experts to discuss pros and cons of various enrollment options.

How Can California Make Most of Telehealth Law?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

With a new law in the books this fall -- the California Telehealth Advancement Act -- California is poised to move audio-visual technology into the medical mainstream. We asked experts what California policymakers and health care providers can do to make the transition proceed smoothly and effectively.

How Can California Make Most of Volatile Marketplace?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

We asked experts and policymakers how the state can best take advantage of competition and consolidation in the health care industry to ensure that the entire system -- and ultimately California consumers -- benefit.

What Can California Learn From Healthy San Francisco?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

San Francisco's previously uninsured residents seem to be getting healthier, and health care providers generally are satisfied with the country's first effort to provide government-sponsored health care access to all residents, according to a new report. We asked policymakers and experts what the rest of the state might glean from Healthy San Francisco.

How Should Policymakers Deal With the Fattening of California?

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Obesity rates in California have more than doubled since 1990, and if current trends continue, more than half of the state's adults will be obese by 2030, according to new research. We asked legislators and policy analysts how the state should deal with the problem.

Should State Consolidate Health Plan Regulation? How, When?

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

California is the only state with two bureaucracies keeping tabs on health insurers. Should California consolidate health care regulation in one agency? If so, how and when? We asked experts and stakeholders to weigh in.

How Can California Solve Family Physician Shortage?

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

California -- like many parts of the country -- is facing a shortage of family physicians on the eve of a significant expansion of the health care system. We asked experts and stakeholders what California policymakers can do to encourage a healthy supply of care providers.

Should State Regulate Health Insurance Premiums?

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:00:00 GMT

What will it mean for Californians if the Legislature passes and the governor signs a bill giving state government the authority to reject health insurance premium increases it deems unjustified?

Where Do Brokers Fit in New Health Insurance Picture?

Thu, 26 May 2011 08:00:00 GMT

We asked experts and stakeholders to weigh in on a bill in Congress that would exempt insurance brokers' fees from being classified as administrative costs under the Affordable Care Act's medical loss ratio provisions.

Counties Face New, Expanded Health Care Challenges

Mon, 02 May 2011 08:00:00 GMT

California counties' role in delivering health care using a patchwork of federal and state programs and funding is about to become more complex, if not more difficult, because of health care reform and budget constraints. We asked stakeholders and experts how policymakers could best navigate new waters.

How Should California Handle Eligibility for Long-Term Medi-Cal?

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:00:00 GMT

We asked stakeholders and experts what steps state policymakers could take to address questions surrounding eligibility for Medi-Cal long-term care coverage.

How Can California Exchange Minimize 'Churning'?

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:00:00 GMT

We asked experts and stakeholders to suggest strategies in the building and operation of California's new health insurance exchange that would minimize beneficiaries' moving in and out of coverage -- known as "churning."

What Would ACA Repeal Mean for California?

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 GMT

If efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act are successful -- either in Congress or the Supreme Court -- what happens next in California? We asked stakeholders and policymakers what direction health care reform might take if the current path is blocked.

How Might Physician Comparisons Change Landscape?

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Health care consumers have a new tool launched in January by the federal government -- a website allowing head-to-head comparisons of physicians. We asked experts how comparison tools like this might change the way health care is delivered.

Is California Ready for Health Care Profit Sharing?

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:00:00 GMT

If value-based purchasing of health care spreads as many predict it will, would a logical next step be to reward consumers for choosing a low-priced alternative by sharing some of the profit? We asked insurers, consumer advocates, employers and employer groups to weigh in.

Payment Plan for Nursing Homes Raises Concerns

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 08:00:00 GMT

California plans to link $40 million in Medi-Cal rate increases to a new pay-for-performance system in nursing homes, and the governor recently signed into law a reauthorization of minimum staffing levels. We invited stakeholders to share opinions on how those changes might affect care quality.

Should Hospital Charges Be More Transparent?

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 08:00:00 GMT

A couple of recent efforts to increase pricing transparency in California hospitals have stalled. We asked stakeholders whether the public should have more access to hospital prices.

Improving California's Approach to Chronic Conditions

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:00:00 GMT

The arrival of national health reform offers opportunities to improve the way California's health care system deals with chronic conditions. We asked stakeholders how policymakers, legislators, health care providers and insurers could best take advantage of these opportunities.

Fat Californians Putting Strain on Health Economy

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:00:00 GMT

More California adults are obese or overweight than those who aren't and almost 40% of children in public schools in California are overweight or obese, according to recent research. We asked stakeholders how policymakers and insurers should combat obesity in California.

Doc Shortage Made Worse by Low Participation in Medi-Cal

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 GMT

California faces two related problems about to get worse: not enough family practice physicians and not enough physicians treating Medi-Cal patients. We asked stakeholders how California should deal with these two shortages.

How To Build Medi-Cal Waiver Bridge to Health Care Reform

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

We asked stakeholders how California can design a new Medi-Cal waiver to create the best environment for health care reform to take root in California.

How Small Businesses Can Make Most of Health Care Reform

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

We asked small business experts and insurers to share insights about how California small businesses can make the most of health care reform while dealing with new administrative burdens it brings.

How To Design, Deliver New, Improved Medi-Cal

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Health care reform offers an opportunity for California to redefine -- perhaps reinvent -- Medi-Cal with a goal of establishing a new "culture of coverage" in the state. We asked experts how the state should go about it.

Promises, Challenges of Health Reform in California

Tue, 18 May 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Because many provisions of the new national law will be carried out differently in different states, stakeholders and policy makers in each state will play a key part in how the law is put into action. We asked stakeholders to assess the promise and challenge of health care reform in California.

Assessing Health Care Impacts of Reforms for Immigrants

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Health policy experts, immigrants and immigrant rights organizations are assessing the health care impacts for immigrants in one sweeping reform already signed into law and the potential impacts of another one on the horizon -- immigration reform.

How Will Reform Affect County Programs for the Indigent?

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:00:00 GMT

We asked experts to predict how national reform might affect California’s struggling county-run programs providing medical care for indigent adults. The state has several options over the next three-and-a-half years before expanded Medi-Cal arrives.

California Hospital Seismic Safety Rules Center Stage Again

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile have called into question California's own preparedness for a major quake. Hospitals' compliance with state seismic safety rules are of particular concern.

Is California Ripe for Global Payment, ACOs?

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Reworking the health care payment system has been a key aspect of health care reform proposals in Congress. A major Massachusetts insurer has pushed ahead and adopted a global payment system, raising questions about whether California is ready to make a similar move toward global payments and accountable care organizations.

Stakeholders Line Up Against Health Cuts in Governor's Budget Plan

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Gov. Schwarzenegger's fiscal year 2010-2011 budget proposal calls for cuts to health care and social services and raises the prospect of even deeper cuts if the federal government doesn't provide more money to the state.

Lessons Learned From California's H1N1 Experience

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Mark Horton, head of the California Public Health Department, and Vanessa Cordova of the Alameda County Public Health Department share their thoughts on the state's efforts to address H1N1 flu.

Reviews Mixed for New Law on Nursing Home Ratings

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Beginning in 2011, California nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid will be required to post their ratings from CMS' five-star system. Supporters of the law say it will help consumers make health care decisions, but nursing home operators say CMS' system is inaccurate.

What Will New Timely Access Rules Mean for California?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Department of Managed Health Care Director Cindy Ehnes joins health care advocates and representatives of the insurance industry and physician lobby in debating the implications of rules that will cap wait times for medical services for HMO members.

How Should California Pay for Retiree Health Benefits?

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT

In addition to questions about funding Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and other programs, California is faced with the question of how to cover the cost of health care benefits for retired public workers. Three stakeholders share their thoughts on how to tackle this challenge.

Should State Add New Hospital Fee To Increase Medi-Cal Payments?

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:00:00 GMT

California legislators are weighing a proposal that would impose a fee on hospitals to help draw down federal matching funds that could help the state boost Medi-Cal reimbursements. The author of the bill and an official with the California Hospital Association explain why they support it.

What Will Post-Budget Health Care Look Like in California?

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Health care programs have seen major cuts in state funding in recent months, prompting some stakeholders to worry that the reductions are undermining California's health care safety net. Representatives of three organizations share their thoughts on the matter.

What Could National Health Care Reform Mean for California?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Mitchell Katz of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and Erica Murray of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems weigh in on the implications of health care reform efforts in Washington, D.C.

What's the Best Strategy for Funding Health Care Efforts in California?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Much has been made of the May 19 special election in California, and some political analysts have raised questions about what the election results say about voters' willingness to dedicate specific revenue streams to health care programs. Two state lawmakers shared their thoughts on the issue.

Should Cash-Strapped California Support New Med Schools?

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:00 GMT

California Medical Association President Dev GnanaDev, Phyllis Guze of UC-Riverside and John Stobo of the University of California share their thoughts on the implications of cutting state funding for UC professional schools, including medical schools.

Post-Election Prognosis for California Health Care

Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Sens. Sam Aanestad and Denise Ducheny join Paul McIntosh of the California State Association of Counties and Jean Ross of the California Budget Project in sharing their thoughts on what the outcome of the May 19 special election means for health care in California.