Following a 2011 CHCF study of geographic medical variation in California, leaders in Humboldt County came together to examine the causes of variation in their region. A multimedia story recounts what transpired.

Updated in 2013 to include breast cancer, prostate cancer, and spine procedures, this CHCF-sponsored research shows that practice patterns vary dramatically from place to place.

Since December 2010, Californians have been able to use a self-service, online application for Healthy Families and Medi-Cal for Families. Health-e-App Public Access offers faster, more convenient access to public insurance.

Medi-Cal is the main source of health insurance for one in five Californians. This report provides an overview of the program's key features, describes how the program is evolving, and examines the challenges ahead.

This Health Affairs article by Robinson explores two health care delivery models — one emphasizing tight coordination and the other specialization — at two competing high-volume orthopedic hospitals.

In 2008, Oregon held a lottery to expand its Medicaid program. Research finds the first two years of coverage increased individuals' health care access and use, lowered out-of-pocket costs and medical debt, and improved mental health, but did not improve health in other areas.

Trends in end-of-life care show that not only does the care given vary widely from region to region and hospital to hospital, but also patients often don't get the care they prefer. What can be done?

By making palliative care available to patients earlier in their illnesses, private health plans are providing better care that also costs less. Learn about six pioneers in California.

Under the "direct primary care" model, patients pay a monthly fee for basic medical services. Learn about the history and current landscape of physician practices offering this arrangement.

A UC Irvine website provides streaming video and slide presentations of the sessions from this annual conference on health care issues, sponsored by CHCF.