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Showing 21-40 of 183 results for "Bernard J. Wolfson"

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An older man in a suit stands in front of a large window with a view of skyscraper buildings

Longtime Head of L.A. Care To Retire After Navigating Major Medi-Cal Changes

By Bernard J. Wolfson September 11, 2024 KFF Health News Original

John Baackes, who steered Medi-Cal’s largest health plan following the Affordable Care Act expansion, and later prepared it for a state overhaul of Medi-Cal, will retire after this year. Baackes believes low payments to doctors and other providers, along with an acute labor shortage, hamper Medi-Cal’s success.

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A cluster of mushrooms grow from soil as mist swirls around them.

First Responders, Veterans Hail Benefits of Psychedelic Drugs as California Debates Legalization

By Bernard J. Wolfson May 13, 2024 KFF Health News Original

California lawmakers have modified a psychedelic drug bill that was vetoed last year, narrowing it to allow only supervised use of psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy, and other hallucinogens rather than decriminalize more broadly. The current bill would establish new state agencies to regulate the program.

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A photo of Rob Bonta speaking in front of a Californian flag.

California Bill Would Require State Review of Private Equity Deals in Health Care

By Bernard J. Wolfson August 13, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Proposed legislation would require the state attorney general’s consent for a wide range of private equity acquisitions in health care. The hospital lobby negotiated an exemption for for-profit hospitals.

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A photo of Gavin Newsom speaking.

California Leaders Tussle With Health Industry Over Billions of New Dollars for Medi-Cal

By Bernard J. Wolfson June 20, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to pull funds earmarked for new investment in Medi-Cal to help plug California’s $45 billion deficit. A state budget passed June 13 by the legislature largely endorsed Newsom’s plan. Voters could settle the matter in an industry-backed initiative that has qualified for the November ballot.

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A photo of Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer holding a news conference.

Por qué demócratas presentan el cierre del gobierno como una batalla por la atención médica

By Amanda Seitz October 6, 2025 KFF Health News Original

Los demócratas ven este momento político como una oportunidad para hablar sobre la necesidad de que la atención médica sea accesible.

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California Dabbles With Reining in Health Spending

By Bernard J. Wolfson June 12, 2024 KFF Health News Original

California is now among the states trying to keep health-care costs down by setting spending caps — a task that pits public officials against a deeply entrenched and heavily lawyered set of players. It’s uncertain whether the state can get insurers, hospitals and medical groups to collaborate on containing costs even as they jockey for […]

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A stethoscope rests on top of a pile of U.S. dollar bills and finance report papers.

California Becomes Latest State To Try Capping Health Care Spending

By Bernard J. Wolfson June 5, 2024 KFF Health News Original

California is the ninth state to set annual health spending targets for the industry. Already hospitals and doctors are voicing resistance to the fledgling Office of Health Care Affordability, even as they avoid overtly opposing its goals.

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An up close photograph of the hands of a senior woman putting money into a coin purse.

New Eligibility Rules Are a Financial Salve for Nearly 2 Million on Medi-Cal

By Bernard J. Wolfson February 15, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Nearly 2 million Medi-Cal enrollees, mainly people who are aged, disabled, or in long-term care, can now accumulate savings and property without limitations and still qualify for the state’s health insurance program for low-income residents. They join an additional roughly 12 million enrollees who already had no asset limits.

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The Psychedelics-As-Medicine Movement Spreads to California

By Bernard J. Wolfson May 15, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Ecstasy, “magic mushrooms” and other psychedelic drugs could soon be recognized as therapeutic in California — one of the latest states, and the biggest, to consider allowing their use as medicine. Legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) and Assembly member Marie Waldron (R) would allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin, mescaline, ecstasy and dimethyltryptamine […]

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A digital illustration of a man where most of the head is drawn as a charcoal sketch, but the eyes and middle portion of the head is a realistic style illustration.

When You Think About Your Health, Don’t Forget Your Eyes

By Bernard J. Wolfson September 22, 2023 KFF Health News Original

Americans think losing their eyesight would be one of the worst possible health outcomes, yet millions lack a fundamental understanding of eye health.

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An up close photograph of the hands of a senior woman putting money into a coin purse.

Nuevas normas de elegibilidad son un alivio financiero para casi 2 millones de personas en Medi-Cal

By Bernard J. Wolfson February 15, 2024 KFF Health News Original

Este grupo se equiparará a los aproximadamente 12 millones de otros beneficiarios que no tienen límites de activos.

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A health care worker is. sitting with their head in their hands.

Los médicos son tan vulnerables a la adicción como cualquier persona

By Bernard J. Wolfson January 4, 2024 KFF Health News Original

El alcohol es una droga muy común entre los médicos, pero su fácil acceso a los analgésicos es también un riesgo particular.

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A health care worker is. sitting with their head in their hands.

Doctors Are as Vulnerable to Addiction as Anyone. California Grapples With a Response.

By Bernard J. Wolfson January 4, 2024 KFF Health News Original

The Medical Board of California, which licenses MDs, is developing a program to evaluate, treat, and monitor doctors with alcohol and drug problems. But there is sharp disagreement over whether those who might volunteer for the program should be subject to public disclosure and over how much participants should pay.

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A photo of a doctor taking a patient's blood pressure.

Se avecinan cambios para Medi-Cal en 2024, pero ¿beneficiarán a los pacientes?

By Bernard J. Wolfson December 22, 2023 KFF Health News Original

A partir del próximo año, más de 700,000 inmigrantes sin papeles serán elegibles para una cobertura completa de Medi-Cal.

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A photo of a doctor taking a patient's blood pressure.

Bold Changes Are in Store for Medi-Cal in 2024, but Will Patients Benefit?

By Bernard J. Wolfson December 22, 2023 KFF Health News Original

California’s Medicaid program is undergoing major changes that could improve health care for residents with low incomes. But they are happening at the same time as several other initiatives that could compete for staff attention and confuse enrollees.

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A vector illustration of a doctor holding a very large umbrella over a family.

In New Year, All Immigrants in California May Qualify for Medicaid Regardless of Legal Status

By Bernard J. Wolfson December 18, 2023 KFF Health News Original

In the new year, California’s Medicaid program will open to otherwise eligible immigrants ages 26 to 49 without legal residency. They will join children, young adults, and adults over 50 enrolled in Medi-Cal through previous expansions to residents lacking authorization. The change is expected to add over 700,000 first-time enrollees.

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A vector illustration of a doctor holding a very large umbrella over a family.

A partir del 1 de enero, todos los inmigrantes en California pueden calificar para Medi-Cal, más allá de su estatus legal

By Bernard J. Wolfson December 18, 2023 KFF Health News Original

Los nuevos inscritos se sumarán a más de 655,000 niños, adultos jóvenes de hasta 25 años y adultos de 50 años y más que ya se han registrado en Medi-Cal a través de expansiones anteriores para residentes sin papeles.

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A photo shows a demonstration of a human composting vessel, a horizontal chamber filled with wood chips and other biodegradable materials.

Listen: How Does Human Composting Work?

October 24, 2022 KFF Health News Original

California Healthline’s Bernard J. Wolfson went on the air to explain a new California law that will allow people to have their bodies reduced to compost after death, an alternative to the traditional-but-toxic methods of cremation and burial.

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A photo of a doctor speaking to a colleague at the front desk of a doctor's office.

California’s Primary Care Shortage Persists Despite Ambitious Moves To Close Gap

By Bernard J. Wolfson and Vanessa G. Sánchez May 1, 2025 KFF Health News Original

The state has in recent years embraced several initiatives recommended in an influential health care workforce report, including alternative payment arrangements for primary care doctors to earn more. Despite increasing residency programs, student debt forgiveness, and tuition-free medical school, California is unlikely to meet patient demand, observers say.

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Three ambulances are lined up outside of an emergency room of a children's hospital in Orange, CA.

Nueva ley de California ofrece protección contra facturas por viajes en ambulancia

By Bernard J. Wolfson November 7, 2023 KFF Health News Original

En California, casi tres cuartas partes de los traslados de emergencia en ambulancia generan facturas fuera de la red. La factura sorpresa promedio es de $1,209, la más alta del país

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