health care

New Budget Fills In Dental Coverage Gaps for Poor Californians

Pauline Bartolone — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:00:05 +0000

California lawmakers and Governor Jerry Brown reached a budget agreement this week. The Governor had previously said he had no intention of bringing back services slashed in years past, but a small number of areas won restored funding for next year - dental care was one of them. Health care reporter Pauline Bartolone has more from Sacramento about what that led up to the decision to renew services.

For four years, Karen Wadsack has been struggling to get the dental care she says she needs.

Budget Battle Over Indigent Care Funds Pits Brown vs Counties

Ben Adler — Thu, 30 May 2013 01:01:47 +0000

One of the biggest unresolved issues in California budget negotiations is what to do with more than $1 billion counties currently spend on health care for the poor. Governor Jerry Brown says counties won’t need that money once the new federal health law kicks in next year. But as Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, the counties disagree.

California Releases Details of Health Insurance Exchange

Katie Orr — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:23:47 +0000

Details of California’s new health insurance exchange were announced today. As Katie Orr reports from Sacramento, about five million people are eligible to get covered through the exchange.

California is opening the exchange to comply with federal healthcare reform. Thirteen insurance agencies will offer a variety of plans. While some plans will be available throughout the state, others will be targeted to specific regions.

Medical Procedures Vary By Region, According to New Study

Katie Orr — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:52:49 +0000

Depending on where they practice, doctors in different parts of California are more likely to recommend certain procedures. It’s a phenomenon called “variance.” A study from The California Healthcare Foundation shows it’s a consideration both patients and physicians should be aware of. The Foundation’s Maribeth Shannon says doctors might not realize what they’re doing.

Brown's New Budget Calls for State-Based Medi-Cal Expansion

Pauline Bartolone — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:01:38 +0000

California Governor Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal shows clear intent for a state-based Medi-Cal expansion under the Affordable Care Act. January’s budget suggested a possible county-led expansion.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley says the budget also proposes a way the state will seek to capture money counties currently use to treat the uninsured.

Valley's Need For Medical Interpreters Could Increase With Health Law

Rebecca Plevin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:07:15 +0000

When Mailu Lor translates for a Hmong patient, she can’t just repeat the doctor’s orders, word for word. That’s because the Hmong language often doesn’t contain advanced medical terminology, or names for diseases, like diabetes.

“Hmong language is a very difficult language,” Lor said. “We don’t have any dictionary for medical terminology.”

What's Next for Governor Brown After Prison Court Ruling?

Julie Small - KPCC — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:33:26 +0000

California faces sanctions, fines and possible jail time for Governor Jerry Brown if the state continues to defy a federal court order to reduce its prison population. That harsh ruling from a three-judge panel came last week in response to the governor’s motion to vacate a prison population cap those judges imposed seven years ago – when they found that overcrowding was the main reason inmates suffered and died from a lack of healthcare. Now, they say overcrowding is still a problem.

Disability Advocates Call for Closure of State-Run Residential Centers

Pauline Bartolone — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:31:33 +0000

The steps to the State Capitol were crowded with people Thursday who wanted lawmakers to hear one message: Close down state-run residential centers for the disabled. Health Care Reporter Pauline Bartolone has more from Sacramento.

People with disabilities shared stories about abuse at the state’s developmental centers. Their advocates said ‘institutionalization’ is outdated. Jaquie Dillard–Foss from the organization “StrategiesTo Empower People” has helped people make the transition from developmental centers back into communities.

Bill Would Exclude Hospital-based Nursing Facilities From Budget Cuts

Amy Quinton — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 01:04:23 +0000

Hospital-based skilled nursing care facilities say more Medi-Cal cuts will devastate patients and families. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, lawmakers from both parties support a bill that would exclude those facilities from budget cuts.

State Loan Repayment Help Not Enough to Solve Doctor Shortage

Pauline Bartolone — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:18:52 +0000

California’s health care system is expected to face an influx of millions more patients as new insurance requirements start next year. But experts are worried that a limited number of doctors in the state will mean health care consumers will have an insurance card but no doctor to see them. Health Care Reporter Pauline Bartolone has more from Sacramento.

Dr. Glen Villanueva has known he wanted to be a doctor since he was five years old.