California Healthcare Foundation

Times are tough enough for Californians; they're even tougher for Californians' teeth. "One-quarter of all adults and 28% of children in California have untreated dental caries [cavities]," says Len Finocchio, a senior program officer at the California Healthcare Foundation, a health advocacy group. "Our research tells us that many people in California have been avoiding routine care that might have cost about $100 for a checkup and cleaning, and then find themselves in the emergency room, where they get only an antibiotic, a bill that can average over $600 and instructions to see a dentist."

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will decide whether to give California and other cash-strapped states more freedom to cut the amounts they pay doctors, hospitals and other providers of medical care for the poor. The case could have a major impact on Gov. Jerry Brown's plans to close the state's massive budget deficit. Federal courts previously blocked about $1 billion in Medi-Cal cutbacks adopted by the Legislature in 2008. Brown has proposed trying those cuts again.

"Is there an app for that?" When it comes to consumer healthcare applications for smart phones, the answer, increasingly, is yes. There are now close to 6,000 consumer health apps, according to a review published in March by mobihealthnews, which reports on the mobile health industry, and more are being added every day. Many are free, or cost $1 to $10 to download. Some physicians are concerned about the reliability of the medical information provided by many of these apps, which offer advice and information on a wide array of health topics, including how to find a doctor, first aid for an emergency and exercise instructions.

"Is there an app for that?" When it comes to consumer healthcare applications for smart phones, the answer, increasingly, is yes. There are now close to 6,000 consumer health apps, according to a review published in March by mobihealthnews, which reports on the mobile health industry, and more are being added every day. Many are free, or cost $1 to $10 to download. Some physicians are concerned about the reliability of the medical information provided by many of these apps, which offer advice and information on a wide array of health topics, including how to find a doctor, first aid for an emergency and exercise instructions.

Now that the overhaul of the nation's health insurance system has become a reality, even people who do have health insurance may want to be fluent in its specifics — to know what to expect, and when. Some changes take effect in a few months, some in a few years. Many groups are beginning to post resources to help consumers understand the bill's tenets, Here are some good resources: • Healthinsuranceproviders.com, which sells health insurance over the Web, offers a broad, quick view of the timeline for when various provisions will be implemented.

When a first-of-its-kind report card of the state's hospitals is released this fall, Los Angeles County's four public general hospitals won't be represented -- making the system the largest in California to opt out. In fact, the system's flagship, County-USC Medical Center, is the largest single hospital not participating in the voluntary effort, according to the California HealthCare Foundation, which is sponsoring the initiative. "It's not because we don't want to provide data," said John R.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will decide whether to give California and other cash-strapped states more freedom to cut the amounts they pay doctors, hospitals and other providers of medical care for the poor. The case could have a major impact on Gov. Jerry Brown's plans to close the state's massive budget deficit. Federal courts previously blocked about $1 billion in Medi-Cal cutbacks adopted by the Legislature in 2008. Brown has proposed trying those cuts again.

Under pressure from the state and consumer advocates, Blue Cross of California announced plans Thursday to create a new public charity with assets of more than $2 billion to fund health programs throughout the state. The proposed California HealthCare Foundation would be the largest health foundation in California and one of the 10 largest foundations of any kind in the United States.

On the same day that Daniel Rona qualified for healthcare coverage through his job as an emergency medical technician, an SUV slammed Rona's motorcycle as he was riding in Santa Monica. He was propelled more than 20 feet and landed on his head, breaking his cervical spine and injuring the frontal lobe of his brain. The accident occurred on Jan. 18, 2009, three months after Rona had started working for Gerber Ambulance Service. The date also marked the end of the waiting period for him to qualify for employee healthcare insurance, but Rona — then 21 — had not yet signed the paperwork to start the coverage.

Is Prudential Insurance Co., whose health-care business has been struggling amid bare-knuckles competition in California and elsewhere, preparing to sell a piece of the rock? Some knowledgeable industry sources think so, noting widespread rumors that Prudential is shopping its health-care unit to prospective buyers, a move that would have particular significance for the California health-care market.

On the same day that Daniel Rona qualified for healthcare coverage through his job as an emergency medical technician, an SUV slammed Rona's motorcycle as he was riding in Santa Monica. He was propelled more than 20 feet and landed on his head, breaking his cervical spine and injuring the frontal lobe of his brain. The accident occurred on Jan. 18, 2009, three months after Rona had started working for Gerber Ambulance Service. The date also marked the end of the waiting period for him to qualify for employee healthcare insurance, but Rona — then 21 — had not yet signed the paperwork to start the coverage.

The health insurance overhaul signed into law last month has been billed as the most sweeping reform in generations. And it is. In broad strokes, the law provides tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance, and subsidies for people who buy it for themselves. More people will be eligible for Medicaid, and insurers won't be able to charge more for those with preexisting conditions. But when it comes down to how the law mixes with the variables of everyday life, things get complicated.

Now that the overhaul of the nation's health insurance system has become a reality, even people who do have health insurance may want to be fluent in its specifics — to know what to expect, and when. Some changes take effect in a few months, some in a few years. Many groups are beginning to post resources to help consumers understand the bill's tenets, Here are some good resources: • Healthinsuranceproviders.com, which sells health insurance over the Web, offers a broad, quick view of the timeline for when various provisions will be implemented.

When a first-of-its-kind report card of the state's hospitals is released this fall, Los Angeles County's four public general hospitals won't be represented -- making the system the largest in California to opt out. In fact, the system's flagship, County-USC Medical Center, is the largest single hospital not participating in the voluntary effort, according to the California HealthCare Foundation, which is sponsoring the initiative. "It's not because we don't want to provide data," said John R.

For about 1.5 million California seniors enrolled in Medicare health maintenance organizations, the task of selecting a health plan has been daunting. Many people rely on recommendations from friends, feel-good advertisements or finding their doctor in the HMO's booklet. What's been needed is information that would allow people to directly compare how Medicare HMOs throughout California measure up on costs and services.

Is Prudential Insurance Co., whose health-care business has been struggling amid bare-knuckles competition in California and elsewhere, preparing to sell a piece of the rock? Some knowledgeable industry sources think so, noting widespread rumors that Prudential is shopping its health-care unit to prospective buyers, a move that would have particular significance for the California health-care market.

For about 1.5 million California seniors enrolled in Medicare health maintenance organizations, the task of selecting a health plan has been daunting. Many people rely on recommendations from friends, feel-good advertisements or finding their doctor in the HMO's booklet. What's been needed is information that would allow people to directly compare how Medicare HMOs throughout California measure up on costs and services.

The health insurance overhaul signed into law last month has been billed as the most sweeping reform in generations. And it is. In broad strokes, the law provides tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance, and subsidies for people who buy it for themselves. More people will be eligible for Medicaid, and insurers won't be able to charge more for those with preexisting conditions. But when it comes down to how the law mixes with the variables of everyday life, things get complicated.

Under pressure from the state and consumer advocates, Blue Cross of California announced plans Thursday to create a new public charity with assets of more than $2 billion to fund health programs throughout the state. The proposed California HealthCare Foundation would be the largest health foundation in California and one of the 10 largest foundations of any kind in the United States.