'Medical fascism' or public safety? Lawmakers endure angry public during COVID misinformation bill hearing
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 30, 2022 | California
California set to expand the number of practitioners who can provide abortions
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 22, 2022 | California
Could this be the year California passes insulin cost control?
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 17, 2022 | California
5 Things California: Health policy movement, Food insecurity, CalAIM LTC benefit
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 9, 2022 | California
I'm happy to announce that the registration page for our 2022 Los Angeles State of Reform Health Policy Conference is now live! You can register here to join us at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport on Sept. 22nd! We're holding our Convening Panel meeting for the event today, so stay tuned
California bill to allow teens to consent to COVID vaccines without parental approval moves forward
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 7, 2022 | California
Despite staunch opposition, Sen. Richard Pan (D - Sacramento)’s bill to allow minors aged 12-17 to consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without permission from their parents continues to advance in the California Legislature. The legislation, Senate Bill 866, was introduced in February as part of a bill package intended
Medi-Cal beneficiaries likely to be guaranteed right to independent medical reviews
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 6, 2022 | California
Under current California law, beneficiaries of commercial health insurance are entitled to an independent medical review (IMR) of any services that their health plan denied to provide to them after deeming them “medically unnecessary.” California’s Medicaid program, however, doesn’t guarantee the same rights to all of its members. The 4
Divided California Assembly approves bill prohibiting COVID-19 misinformation from providers
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 2, 2022 | California
Should California be able to govern the speech of medical professionals for the sake of preventing misinformation? Based on the Assembly’s recent passage of Assembly Bill 2098, the majority of the chamber’s representatives think it should. The legislation did, however, receive 20 “no” votes and has been the subject of
California Legislature advances controversial effort to restrict health sector consolidation
Eli Kirshbaum | Jun 1, 2022 | California
A controversial push to restrict anti-competitive practices like consolidation in California’s health sector has cleared a major hurdle with its approval from the Assembly last week. Despite consistent disagreements over the bill’s provisions, the Assembly ultimately passed Assembly Bill 2080 with a 45-19 vote. It now needs to clear the
The 'most important nursing home bill in decades' nears passage in California
Eli Kirshbaum | May 23, 2022 | California
According to supporters of Assembly Bill 1502, a number of nursing home operators in California are running their facilities without proper licenses, and their unregulated practices are significantly undermining patient care. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), according to the bill, is allowing this to continue through lax oversight