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CAHP Fact Sheet: Vote NO on SB 853
/in News /by Connie FloresBacked by pharmaceutical companies, SB 853 removes important health plan checks and balances, clearing the way for big pharma to push for higher usage of their costly specialty drugs – resulting in increased costs for all health plan enrollees.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Why is the California Legislature Inflating Your Health Care Premiums?
/in News /by Connie FloresCalifornia health plans cover more than 26 million people and are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality, affordable health care services. This year, California lawmakers are considering many new health care mandates that, as proposed, would collectively drive up health care premiums by $1.5 billion – in the first year alone.
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Mandates Would Drive Up Premium Costs By $1.5 Billion
/in News /by Connie FloresCalifornia’s health plans cover more than 26 million people and are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care services. In 2022, California lawmakers are considering many new mandate bills that, as proposed, would altogether drive up premiums by $1.5 billion.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Responds to Governor’s May Budget Revise
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresToday, the California Association of Health Plans released the a statement in response to the Governor’s May revision of the 2022-2023 budget proposal.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Get the Facts on Big Pharma-Backed SB 1361
/in News /by Connie FloresSB 1361 has been disguised as prescription drug cost-saving legislation that will benefit patients, but in reality, SB 1361 is a Big Pharma-sponsored bill that will increase premiums for all while doing nothing to rein in prescription drug prices. In fact, the bill actually clears the way for Big Pharma to continue increasing the prices of expensive brand-name drugs with no accountability.
CAHP Fact Sheet: No on SB 958
/in News /by Connie FloresSB 958, sponsored by California hospitals, makes it even easier for them to markup the cost they charge patients for critical medications, causing higher health care premiums for all Californians.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Medical Management Protects Patients and Reduces Costs
/in News /by Connie FloresMedical management practices such as prior authorization and step therapy are important tools used by health plans to ensure patients receive the highest quality medical care. With a comprehensive view of the health care system and each patient’s medical claims history, health plans ensure that medications or treatments prescribed are safe, effective, and affordable to meet each patient’s health care needs.
ICYMI - AHIP Study Shows Hospitals, Physician Offices Hike Prescription Drug Prices
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresA new study published this week by America’s Health Insurance Plans finds that hospitals and physician offices are hiking prescription drug costs for patients by thousands of dollars for the same drugs that can be purchased at a specialty pharmacy.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Welcomes New Covered California Executive Director, Thanks Outgoing Leader Peter Lee
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCalifornia Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi today issued a statement congratulating outgoing Executive Director Peter Lee on his decade of service at Covered California and welcoming new Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California's Health Care Dollar
/in News /by Connie FloresThe vast majority of health plan spending in California goes to pay for medical services like hospital and doctor visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, x-ray, and medical supplies. In 2020, health plans spent nearly $189 billion, or 87 cents out of every health plan dollar, on medical care.
CAHP Issues Statement on Governor’s 2022-2023 State Budget Proposal
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2022-23 state budget proposal.
CAHP Press Release - ICYMI - Los Angeles Times: Leaked SoCal hospital records reveal huge, automated markups for healthcare
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresIn a recent Los Angeles Times column, David Lazarus points out a disturbing practice among
hospitals in California and across the country to markup drug and treatment costs on patient bills that reach upwards
of 575% to 675%. These markups are so common, they are “automatically generated by the hospital’s software…Call it
institutionalized price gouging,” Lazarus says.
CAHP Research Review: Studies Find Uninsured Gap has Narrowed in California; 94% of Californians Now Have Coverage
/in News /by Connie FloresTwo recent studies have delivered good news for the Golden State: California is closer than ever to reaching universal health care coverage, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
CAHP Fact Sheet: NO on SB 524: Puts Patients at Risk and Increases Health Care Costs
/in News /by Connie FloresSB 524 will raise health care costs for Californians by eliminating the vital tools health plans, employers, unions, and the state use to lower the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs.
CAHP Statement: Covered California Announces Low 2022 Rate Change and New Expanded Financial Help Under the American Rescue Plan
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCovered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2022, citing an average statewide rate change of 1.8 percent. New expanded subsidies for Covered Californian enrollees under the American Rescue Plan have lowered premiums by an average of 50 percent for hundreds of thousands of Californians–with some paying as low as one dollar in premiums per month. California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi issued a statement on today’s announcement.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California’s Health Plans Are Making Health Care More Affordable, Accessible and Flexible Under the American Rescue Plan
/in News /by Connie FloresSince the recent passage of the American Rescue Plan by the Biden Administration — which has made health care more affordable for thousands of Californians – California’s health plans have been hard at work finding ways to maximize the new law’s benefits on behalf of their members. These efforts are making health care more affordable, accessible, and flexible for thousands of Californians.
In Case You Missed It: Physician productivity, revenues rebounding to pre-pandemic levels: report (FierceHealthcare)
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresAs the COVID-19 pandemic begins to ease, Fierce Healthcare has reported on a new study by Kaufman Hall finding that U.S. physician groups are seeing signs of financial recovery as their performance metrics return to near pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2021. The new study suggests an end to the volatility driven by COVID-19 that hit physician practices last year, according to Fierce Healthcare.
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Nationwide Study Illustrates Health Plans' Vital Role in California's Health Care Access, Jobs, and Economy
/in News /by Connie FloresA new nationwide study released by AHIP shows that health plans play a vital role in supporting the economy and employees throughout the nation, including here in California. The AHIP study looked at state-by-state statistics such as how many people are covered by insurance from an employer, how many people are employed by the industry, and the percentage of premiums paid by employers, among other statistics.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Announces Two New Hires -- New Director of Regulatory Affairs and Director of State Medicaid Policy Join the CAHP Team
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today announced that two new staff members have joined their team. Anete Millers will serve as Director of Regulatory Affairs and Ashley Kirk as Director of State Medicaid Policy.
CAHP Fact Sheet: American Rescue Plan Delivers More Affordable Health Care Coverage to Thousands of Californians and Brings California Closer than Ever to Closing the Uninsured Gap
/in News /by Connie FloresCalifornia continues to make great progress toward closing the uninsured gap under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other programs. One example is the American Rescue Plan recently signed into law, which has helped make health care coverage more accessible than ever for those with health coverage and for uninsured Californians eligible for affordable health coverage.
The California Association of Health Plans Respond to Governor’s May Budget Revise
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresToday, the California Association of Health Plans released a statement in response to the Governor’s May revision of the 2021-2022 budget proposal.
In Case You Missed It: COVID Testing Has Turned Into a Financial Windfall for Hospitals and Other Providers
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresAs the COVID-19 crisis continues, California Healthline has reported on how hospitals and other medical providers are charging astronomical prices for COVID-19 testing.
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Mandates Would Drive Up Health Premium Costs by $1.2 Billion
/in News /by Connie FloresCovering more than 26 million Californians, health plans are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care. This year, California’s Legislature is considering several new mandate bills that, as proposed, would altogether drive up premiums by $1.2 billion.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Medical Management in the Era of Covid-19
/in News /by Connie FloresHealth Plans Ensuring the Highest Quality Care
CAHP Fact Sheet: California's Health Care Dollar
/in News, Policy Analysis /by Connie FloresThe vast majority of health plan spending in California goes to pay for medical services like hospital and doctor visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, x-rays, and medical supplies. In 2019, health plan spent more than $172 billion, or 86 cents out of every health plan dollar, on medical care.
CAHP Issues Statement On Governor’s 2021-2022 State Budget Proposal
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP President and CEO Charles Bacchi today issued a statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2021-22 state budget proposal.
CAHP Issues Statement on New DMHC, OSHPD Appointments
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today applauded Governor Newsom’s selections of Mary Watanabe as Director of the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and Elizabeth Landsberg as Director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).
California’s Health Plans Play Key Role in Making Telehealth Accessible to More Californians
/in News /by Connie FloresTelehealth use has grown significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken hold of daily life and is helping patients and providers alike.
California Association of Health Plans Statement in Response to Today’s Signing of Behavioral Health Legislation
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresIn response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of legislation focused on behavioral health care today, the California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) released this statement.
CAHP Statement on the California State Legislature’s Approval of SB 855 (Wiener)
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresThe California Association of Health Plans today released a statement regarding the approval of SB 855 by the California State Legislature on Sunday.
CAHP Statement: California Association of Health Plans on Senate Bill 855 (Weiner)
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresThe California Association of Health Plans today released a statement in response to Senate Bill 855 by Senator Scott Wiener following the bill’s passage by the Assembly Health Committee.
CAHP Statement: Covered California Premiums for 2021 See Record-Low Rate Change
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCovered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2021, citing an average statewide rate change of 0.6 percent, the lowest premium increase since the exchange was established in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act.
California’s health plans support our provider partners on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic
/in News /by Connie FloresHealth plans have extended billions of dollars in financial assistance and strongly advocated for emergency federal funding for physicians and hospitals.
In Case You Missed It: UC Berkeley Study: COVID-19 Has Already Cost California Health Plans $2.4 Billion
/in News /by Connie FloresResearchers at the Nicholas C. Petris Center at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health this week released a new study finding that the COVID-19 pandemic has cost California’s public and private insurers an estimated $2.4 billion dollars in testing and treatment. This amounts to about six times the annual cost to treat seasonal influenza in California.
In Case You Missed It: Fierce Healthcare: COVID-19 Could Cost Insurers up to $547 Billion Through 2021: Report
/in News /by Connie FloresThe consulting firm Wakely on June 3, 2020 released a study analyzing the costs of medical services tied to COVID-19. The study, commissioned by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), analyzes the COVID-19 cost impacts to health plans operating in the commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care markets from 2020 to 2021.
The news website Fierce Healthcare published an article on the findings of the study.
The California Association of Health Plans Respond to Governor’s May Budget Revise
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresToday, the California Association of Health Plans released a statement in response to the Governor’s May revision of the 2020-2021 budget proposal.
California’s Health Plans Providing Critical Support to Patients, Communities, and Providers Through the Coronavirus Pandemic
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCalifornia’s health plans are stepping up in extraordinary ways to address the needs of patients and to keep the health care system strong during the Coronavirus pandemic.
CAHP Applauds Covered California, DHCS Actions to Address COVID-19 Crisis
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today applauded the critical steps taken by state leaders at Covered California and the Department of Health Care Services to extend the open enrollment period and make it easier for people to access coverage during the COVID-19 crisis.
CAHP Names New Vice President of State Medicaid Policy and Legislative Advocate
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today announced that two new staff members have joined their team. Amber Kemp will serve as Vice President of State Medicaid Policy and Jedd Hampton as Legislative Advocate.
CAHP Issues Statement on Covered California’s Robust Enrollment Increase
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today applauded Covered California’s announcement that more than 400,000 people have signed up for health insurance coverage through the state’s health care marketplace during the most recent open-enrollment period. This represents the highest enrollment numbers since 2016 and is 41% higher than last year’s figure of more than 295,000 people who enrolled.
CAHP Infographic: California's Health Care Dollar
/in News /by Connie FloresThe vast majority of health plan spending in California goes to pay for medical services like hospital and doctor visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, x-rays, and medical supplies. In 2018, health plans spent more than $164 billion, or 88 cents out of every health plan dollar, on medical care.
CAHP Issues Statement On Appointment of New DHCS Director Dr. Brad Gilbert
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today issued a statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom appointing Dr. Brad Gilbert as the director of the Department of Health Care Services.
CAHP Issues Statement On Supreme Court Ruling Regarding ‘Public Charge’ Rule
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCAHP today issued a statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Jan. 27 decision to lift the nationwide injunction on the Trump Administration’s “public charge” rule, which would discriminate against immigrants who rely on public benefits.
CAHP Fact Sheet - Technology and Convenience
/in News, Policy Analysis /by Connie FloresWhen it comes to health care, California health plans are harnessing the power of technology to ensure individuals and families are covered, offering the benefits that matter most to people at every stage in life.
CAHP Fact Sheet - Preventive Care: Investing in Your Health
/in News, Policy Analysis /by Connie FloresPrevention is the best medicine for living a healthy lifestyle. Services helping Californians to avoid ailments and diseases, or detect them early on, are an invaluable investment in the health of the state’s individuals and families.
CAHP Issues Statement On Governor’s 2020-2021 State Budget Release
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresCalifornia Association of Health Plans President & CEO Charles Bacchi today issued a statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2020-21 state budget proposal.
CAHP Applauds Federal Repeal Of Costly Health Insurance Taxes
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresThe California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) today applauded the permanent repeal of burdensome health insurance taxes as a part of the bipartisan budget deal approved by federal lawmakers. The repeal of these taxes means that Californians will pay less for their health care by avoiding skyrocketing health care costs that would have resulted under these taxes, had they taken effect.
New RunawayRx Fact Sheet: Cost of Lifesaving Diabetes Treatments Continues to Rise
/in News, Press Releases /by Connie FloresRunawayRx calls attention to skyrocketing cost of insulin and diabetes treatments during National Diabetes Awareness Month.
Press Release: California Governor Signs Bill to Rein in Profiteering Schemes by Dialysis, Drug Treatment Industries
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdSACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 290 today, a law that will stop a profiteering scheme used most notably by certain dialysis and addiction treatment centers.
CAHP Fact Sheet - More Californians Stand to Gain Health Care Coverage With New State Policies Supported by Health Plans
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdThe individual health insurance market will see an average rate change of only 0.8% in 2020 — the lowest since Covered California launched in 2014 — and California’s health plans are proving to play a key role in providing affordable health care coverage, while supporting policies to help close the 7% remaining uninsured gap in the state.
Press Release: First SB 17 Drug Cost Increase Report Reveals a 25% Median Increase for All Reported Drugs
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdSeptember 24, 2019, Sacramento, Calif. – The first major quarterly report providing wholesale drug cost increase information on existing prescription drugs issued by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) was released and made available to the public for the first time yesterday. The report is a result of the passage of Senate Bill 17 (Hernandez) – California’s landmark drug price transparency bill that became law in 2017.
Press Release: California Assembly Passes Bill to Address Inflated Medical Claims by Dialysis, Drug Treatment Industries
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdThe California Assembly passed a bill Sept. 10 to address runaway costs and rein in a profiteering scheme involving the dialysis and addiction treatment industries, and it now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until Oct. 13 to decide whether to sign it into law.
New AHIP Study: California's 2016 law to end surprise medical bills has increased the number of in-network doctors by 16%
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdNew AHIP Study: California’s 2016 law to end surprise medical bills has increased the number of in-network doctors by 16%
CAHP Statement: Individual Health Coverage Premiums for 2020 Reflect California's Bold Steps to Increase Affordability
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdCAHP Statement: Individual Health Coverage Premiums for 2020 Reflect California’s Bold Steps to Increase Affordability
CAHP Statement: Individual Health Coverage Premiums for 2020 Reflect California’s Bold Steps to Increase Affordability
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdCovered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2020, citing an average weighted statewide rate change of .8 percent, the lowest premium increase since the exchange was established in 2014.
Press Release: Senate Health Committee Passes Bill to Address Runaway Costs in Dialysis, Drug Treatment Industries
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdThe Senate Health Committee passed legislation today to address runaway costs and rein in a profiteering scheme by third party health providers – including in the dialysis and addiction treatment industries.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Commends Gov. Newsom, State Legislature for Striking Budget Deal That Improved Health Care Affordability and Access
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdCalifornia Association of Health Plans President & CEO Charles Bacchi today issued the following statement after Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a state budget that will promote more access to health care, stabilize the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and enhance affordability for all Californians.
Press Release: CA Assembly Passes Bill to Rein in Outsized Costs in Dialysis, Drug Treatment Industries
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdThe California State Assembly today passed legislation by a bipartisan vote to contain costs in the dialysis and drug treatment industries that currently result in higher health care costs for all consumers.
CAHP Statement: Response To Governor’s May Budget Revise Release
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdCalifornia Association of Health Plans (CAHP) President & CEO Charles Bacchi today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s release of the May budget revise.
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Benefit Mandates Will Drive Up Health Care Costs for All
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdAs providers of health care coverage for more than 26 million Californians, health plans are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California Health Plan Profit Margins: Lower Than You May Think.
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdThe vast majority of health plan spending in California goes to pay for medical services like hospital and doctor visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, x-rays, and medical supplies.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Releases Research Review On Northwestern University Finding that Medicaid Managed Care Lowers Drug Costs
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdThe California Association of Health Plans today has released a research review of a recent non-partisan nationwide study conducted by a team of Northwestern University professors which found that allowing managed care organizations (MCO’s) to administer the majority of Medicaid drug benefits, as we currently do in California, significantly reduces state spending on prescription drugs.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Hires New Director of Regulatory Affairs and State Programs Analyst
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdThe California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) today announced that Christina Wu is the association’s new Director of Regulatory Affairs and Ellesse Flores has joined the staff as State Programs Analyst.
CAHP Statement: Bill Designed to Lower Prescription Drug Prices by Cracking Down on Pharma’s Pay-for-Delay Schemes Passes Assembly Health Committee
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdAB 824, a bill that would curb increasing drug prices in Californiaby allowing more generic drugs to enter thehealth caremarketplace, cleared the Assembly Health Committee this afternoon. The measure, introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chairman Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa)inpartnership with Attorney General Xavier Becerra, would prohibit “pay-for-delay” agreements where a pharmaceutical company transfers anything of value to delay a competitor’s research, marketing, or sale of a competing version of its drug.
CAHP Statement: Assembly Health Committee Passes Bill to Stop Third Party Payer Scheme from Driving Up Health Care Costs for All
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdLegislation designed toincreaseconsumer protection by reining-in a profiteering scheme operated by the dialysis and drug rehabilitation industries passed the Assembly Health Committee on a bipartisan vote.
Infographic: How Prescription Drug Costs Impact California Health Plan Premiums
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdIn 2017, California enacted into law SB 17, groundbreaking legislation that is helping to shine a light on pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to spike prescription drug prices.
Infographic: How SB17 Works and Key Dates for 2019
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdSB 17 will help bring pharmaceutical companies’ pricing tactics out of the dark and address the growing affordability crisis by requiring drug companies to give health plans and others notice of major price increases for the most expensive drugs. While some key details of the law have been implemented, there is still much more activity to come in 2019.
CAHP Statement: New RunawayRx Infographics Explain California’s Drug Price Transparency Law and How It’s Working to Reveal How Rx Costs Impact Health Plan Premiums
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdRunawayRx today released two new infographics. One highlightskey implementation dates for California’s landmark prescription drug transparency law, SB 17, and the other revealsnew details about how prescription drug costs are impacting California health plan premiums.
Infographic: Understanding Health Plans' Role in Pharmacy Benefit Delivery
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdPrescription drug benefits are an integral part of Medi-Cal managed care.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Issues Response to Newsom's State-of-the-State Address
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdCalifornia Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi issued a statement today in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s first state-of-the-state address.
CAHP Fact Sheet - Individual Shared Responsibility Requirement
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdExpanded Premium Assistance and a State-Based Individual Shared Responsibility Requirement Will Make Health Care More Affordable.
CAHP Fact Sheet - Spotlight on Medi-Cal Managed Care
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdWith more than 13.3 million enrollees, California’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) provides comprehensive medical, behavioral, and mental health care benefits and services to one in three Californians.
Issue Spotlight: Elimination of the Individual Mandate: What it Means for California
/in News /by calhealthplans_wwjykdCalifornia has made great strides toward achieving universal health coverage through implementing the Affordable Care Act.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Issues Statement Applauding Governor’s Bold New Health Care Agenda
/in News, Press Releases /by calhealthplans_wwjykdCalifornia Association of Health Plans (CAHP) President and CEO Charles Bacchi made a statement regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s new health care agenda.