Daniela Hernandez

Calif. ‘Report Cards’ Are Out In Time For Open Enrollment

KFF Health News Original

The state timed the release of this year’s report cards to coincide with the second round of open enrollment in Covered California, the state’s online health exchange, which kicks off Nov. 15. Several plans included in the report cards are offered on the exchange.

Study: Robotic Surgery More Costly For Ovarian Problems

KFF Health News Original

We’ve heard it before — the robots are coming to save the day. But for certain medical procedures, that day may not be as close as you’d think. A study published today in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology suggests that robot-assisted surgeries to remove ovaries or ovarian cysts were more expensive and had more complications […]

California To Launch Medicaid-Funded Teledentistry

KFF Health News Original

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that would require Medi-Cal, the state’s insurance program for the poor, to pay for dental services delivered by teams of hygienists and dentists connected through the Internet. California is among the first states to launch such teledentistry services, which are intended to increase the options for […]

California Exchange Seeks To Enroll 500,000 More People

KFF Health News Original

This KHN story can be republished for free. (details) Covered California, the Golden State’s online health insurance marketplace, announced Monday that it will be spending close to $100 million as it aims to enroll 500,000 new people during the second round of open enrollment, which begins in two months. The state also will be trying […]

Some California Hospitals, Insurers Disappointed in ‘Bundled Payments’

KFF Health News Original

Giving health-care providers a lump sum payment for certain treatments – touted as a way to save money and improve coordination of care — yielded disappointing results for some major California hospitals and insurers, a study found. The RAND Corp. study, funded by a $2.9-million federal grant,  looked at “bundled payments” for care of insured […]

Study: Diabetes Afflicts 1 In 3 Hospitalized Patients Over 34 In California

KFF Health News Original

In California, roughly one in three hospitalized people over 34 years old has diabetes, increasing the complexity and cost of their care, according to a report released Thursday. Hospitalizations for patients with diabetes on average cost about $2,200 more than for patients who didn’t have the disease, regardless of the reason they were admitted, according […]