State Health Policy - California Health Care Foundation

State Health Policy
CHCF's Sacramento office provides policymakers and the media with a valuable local resource, and serves as a link to experts and resources at the foundation's Oakland headquarters.

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Health Insurance in California: A Recent History

Katherine Wilson

Insurance Coverage

CHCF offers a snapshot of the health insurance market in California, where 93% of people are enrolled in private or public coverage, with only 7% of the population remaining uninsured. These infographics provide a breakdown of current enrollment in commercial plans and public programs, as well as a visual guide to the consolidation of health insurers since 1985.

Proposed Changes to Public Charge Rule

On October 10, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security published highly anticipated proposed changes to “public charge” rules that could disqualify many immigrants from gaining permanent residency in the US. A 60-day public comment period is underway. In this collection, CHCF highlights resources and emerging analysis of the potential impact that these proposed changes could have on access to health care.

December 6, 2018

Briefing: How Medi-Cal Is Modernizing Addiction Treatment

Behavioral Health

December 6, 2018

Expert speakers discussed the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, the central tool in California's effort to expand and improve its system for treating people with addiction.

November 15, 2018

Briefing: The ABCs of APCDs

Health Care Costs

November 15, 2018

Speakers from across the US discussed what an all-payer claims database could mean for California, and how it might be implemented.

Substance Use in California: A Look at Addiction and Treatment

Behavioral Health

About 8% of Californians met criteria for substance use disorder, but only 10% of people with a substance use disorder received any type of treatment. CHCF's first Almanac publication to address this topic provides an overview of substance use and addiction in the state.

October 15, 2018

Health Affairs Forum in Sacramento — Improving Care for Californians

Payment & Financing, Providers, Health Care Costs

October 15, 2018

The September 2018 issue of Health Affairs was entitled “California: Leading The Way?” Health Affairs will return to Sacramento for this special event.

California’s Policy Options: Making Individual Market Coverage More Affordable

ACA/Health Reform, Insurance Coverage

The UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education has released a report detailing affordability concerns of Californians seeking individual market coverage. It also outlines five policy options that could move the state closer to universal coverage.

Mental Health in California: For Too Many, Care Not There

Behavioral Health, Providers

This Almanac report provides an overview of mental health in California: disease prevalence, suicide rates, supply and use of treatment providers, and mental health in the correctional system, plus available data on spending and quality of care.

Intended Consequences: Modernizing Medi-Cal Rate Setting to Improve Health and Manage Costs

Manatt Health, Optumas Healthcare

Medi-Cal, Payment & Financing

The current Medi-Cal rate-setting methodology can hurt health plans that invest in initiatives that lower costs (such as care coordination), thereby discouraging more plans from making those investments. A new rate-setting methodology is needed.

2017 Edition — Medi-Cal Facts and Figures

Medi-Cal, Insurance Coverage

Medi-Cal is the main source of health insurance for one in three Californians. This quick reference guide provides an overview of the program's key features and describes how enrollment has grown from 2013 to 2017.

Understanding the Rules: Federal Legal Considerations for State-Based Approaches to Expand Coverage in California

ACA/Health Reform, Insurance Coverage

California policymakers and other stakeholders are exploring state-based approaches to expand or improve coverage within the state. This paper illuminates federal legal issues that need to be considered under each approach.

Key Questions When Considering a State-Based, Single-Payer System in California

Susan Philip, Marian Mulkey

ACA/Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, Payment & Financing

There is renewed interest in a potential state-based, single-payer health care system in California. Asking key questions will help clarify what this might mean for our state.

Future Health Commission to Lay Groundwork for a Modern Health Workforce

August 23, 2017

Sandra R. Hernández

CHCF wants a health care system that works for all Californians, so we're proud to support the California Future Health Workforce Commission.

ACA Repeal Resource Page

ACA/Health Reform

As the debate over the repeal of the Affordable Care Act evolves, CHCF is maintaining this list of data resources and analyses of the potential impact on California.

Resource Page: Emerging Themes in State Medicaid Waivers

Use these resources to keep track of the Medicaid Section 1115 waiver and its effect on California. This page is updated regularly.

Resource Page: Community Paramedicine in California

A comprehensive list of resources for keeping track of California's community paramedicine pilots.

Resource Center

Regional Markets

California’s large size means that health care is organized, delivered, and financed differently throughout the state. CHCF commissioned studies of seven large and diverse regional markets that provide details of local health care systems and identify common themes and emerging issues that influence how Californians receive their health care.

Resource Center

California Health Care Almanac

Objective information on health care costs, coverage, quality, and delivery supports effective decisionmaking. The Almanac provides data and analysis on California's health care system.

Sandra Shewry

Vice President, External Engagement

Katherine Rodriguez

Associate Director, State Health Policy

Crystal Haswell

Program Officer, State Health Policy

Danny Sandoval

Sacramento Office Manager & Program Associate, State Health Policy

Avram Goldstein

Senior Engagement Officer