Before health reform, Los Angeles County clinics served people who had no other options—sick patients with no health insurance. But as 2014 approached, county officials realized that many of their clients would become insured and choose other health care. If they opted out, the entire system –with 19,000 employees and a $4 billion budget would face near collapse.
The Affordable Care Act, with its promise of health care for most Americans, represents a welcome step forward for physicians who have cared for the uninsured.
More than a year after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, nearly three million Californians are newly insured by Medi-Cal, California’s health insurance program for the very poor, but many of them are still struggling to get the care they need.
States should try to simplify the process of reapplying for public benefits, such as health insurance and food stamps, so fewer people temporarily lose their benefits, according to a new report.
People living in California’s Central Valley and rural northern counties have the poorest health outcomes in the state, according to a report released last Wednesday.