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CAHP works to sustain a strong environment in which our member plans can provide access to products that offer choice and flexibility to the Californians they serve.
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A one-stop-shop for information about how health plans are working to provide Californians with affordable access to quality health care.
CAHP Press Release: Information and Resources for California Health Plan Members Impacted By Southern California Wildfires
California’s health plans are ready to provide emergency health care assistance to our members who have been impacted or displaced by the Los Angeles and Ventura County fires.
CAHP Press Release: CAHP Issues Statement on Governor's January 2025-2026 State Budget
California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi today issued a statement in response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2025-26 state budget proposal.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Key Facts for Providers on California’s Health Care Spending Target
The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) in April 2024 adopted a statewide health care spending target, which will apply to health plans, providers and hospitals. The OHCA board adopted a phased-in target to gradually decrease health care system spending growth over time. The purpose of the spending target is to rein in health care costs and make health care more affordable, while also aiming to address inequities in the health care system.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California's Essential Health Benefits: A Comprehensive Guide
California’s Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) were established in 2014 by California policymakers and stakeholders over robust discussion, research, and analysis with the goal of creating a comprehensive package of health care services that benefit the greatest number of people while keeping health care affordable.
CAHP Fact Sheet: AB 3275 Will Harm California’s Health Care Delivery System and Do Nothing to Save Distressed Hospitals
VOTE NO ON AB 3275 – Health plans understand the important role hospitals play within our health care system and we continue to support and make every effort to ensure hospitals stay operational so they can continue to provide quality care to all patients in the communities we serve. Unfortunately, AB 3275 will drive up health care costs, harm the existing health care delivery system, and DO NOTHING to help financially distressed hospitals in California.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Top Cost Drivers of 2025 Health Plan Premiums
California’s health plan premium costs in 2025 will be driven by several factors across the individual and small group marketplaces, particularly: continued inflation driving increased provider reimbursement rates, high hospital costs, the resumption of Medi-Cal redeterminations, and the continued rise in drug prices especially from weight loss drugs and other specialty drugs.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Hospitals are Marking Up Prices of Prescription Drugs, Driving Up the Cost of Healthcare for All
Hospitals are hiking the prices of hospital-administered drugs, making it even harder for patients to afford these often life-saving medications. A recent study found that hospitals markup drug costs by an average of 108%, which drives up the cost of patient hospital bills exponentially. Check out these hospital bill markups!
CAHP Press Release: Covered California Announces Preliminary 2025 Rate Change, Expanded Financial Support for Consumers
Covered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2025, citing an average statewide rate change of 7.9 percent. This rate is lower than last year’s 9.6 percent rate change and most Covered California enrollees will experience little to no impact to their monthly health insurance costs. The governor and state lawmakers have provided more support for the state-enhanced cost-sharing reduction program, which will eliminate deductibles and lower the cost of care for more than one million Californians, Covered California said.
CAHP Press Release: ICYMI – Wall Street Journal: Surging Hospital Prices Helping Keep Inflation High
The Wall Street Journal recently published a report highlighting the fact that surging hospital prices have contributed to stubbornly high inflation in the United States. The article notes that the U.S. Labor Department found that hospital prices specifically jumped 7.7% in April from a year ago, the highest increase in any month since October 2010.
CAHP Press Release: ICYMI – Capitol Weekly: Health Care Affordability Efforts Must Include Everyone
Capitol Weekly this week published an opinion editorial authored by California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) President and CEO Charles Bacchi, arguing that the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) must prioritize addressing hospital costs—the largest cost driver in the health care system.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California’s Health Plans Are Working to Address Affordability in Health Care Coverage
As California’s Office of Healthcare Affordability (OHCA) develops proposals to address health care affordability in California, health plans are actively engaged with the Office on efforts to manage health care costs and improve affordable health care coverage options. Californians deserve health care that is accessible, affordable, and high quality, and health plans are active participants in developing solutions.
CAHP Fact Sheet: SB 294 Will Delay Much Needed Mental Health Care for California’s Youth.
SB 294 is a counterproductive bill that will do the opposite of what it seeks to do by unnecessarily complicating and delaying care further for those seeking mental health care. It will also increase costs for the state’s health care system and all Californians.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Research Review - Study: Hospitals Charged California Private Insurers 300% of Medicare in 2022: Rand
Hospital-negotiated prices spiked from 2020 to 2022, with commercial insurer and health plan payments to hospitals amounting to 254% of Medicare rates on average, according to a new study published by RAND.
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Health Care Mandates Would Drive Up Premiums by $347 Million
California’s health plans provide health care coverage for more than 28 million people and are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care services.
In 2024, California lawmakers are considering many new mandate bills that, as proposed, would altogether drive up premiums by $347 million. As legislators continue to mandate more and more services, premiums go up for everyone, whether they use those services or not.
CAHP Fact Sheet: 5 Ways Health Plans are Supporting California's Hospitals
California’s health plans are fully dedicated to working with the hospital community to meet the needs of all patients in the communities we serve.
Your Plan Your Advocate Fact Sheet: Health Plans 101: Covering California's Essential Benefits
California health plans offer comprehensive coverage to more than 27 million people under the state’s Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) package, ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care services for members.
CAHP Press Release: CAHP Promotes Nicholas Louizos to Senior Vice President
The California Association of Health Plans today announced that long time staff member Nicholas Louizos has been promoted to serve as the association’s first Senior Vice President.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California's Health Care Dollar
The vast majority of health plan spending in California goes to pay for medical services for hospital and doctor visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, x-rays, and medical supplies. In 2022, health plans spent over $204 billion, or 94 cents out of every health plan dollar, on medical care.
CAHP Press Release: CAHP Promotes Marjorie King to Director of Business Development
The California Association of Health Plans today announced that long time staff member, Marjorie King has been promoted to serve as the association’s Director, Business Development and Events.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Providing high quality health care through Medi-Cal Managed Care
With more than 15 million enrollees, California’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) provides comprehensive medical, behavioral, and mental health care benefits and services to one in three Californians. Within Medi-Cal, an estimated 14.1 million members are enrolled in Medi-Cal Managed Care, providing some of California’s most vulnerable populations with well-rounded services for improved health outcomes.
CAHP Press Release - CAHP Issues Statement on Governor’s January 2024-2025 State Budget
California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi today issued a statement in response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2024-25 state budget proposal.
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Health Coverage Mandates Would Drive Up Premiums By Nearly $321 Million
California health plans cover more than 28 million people and are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality, affordable health care services. California lawmakers have sent to Governor Newsom’s desk many new health coverage mandates that, as proposed, would collectively drive up health care premiums by 320.7 MILLION DOLLARS in the first year alone.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California's Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans Advancing Health Equity
California’s Medi-Cal managed care plans are advancing health equity in communities across the state. Enacting change and promoting health equity will improve health care for Californians that need it the most.
CAHP Press Release - In Case You Missed It - Capitol Weekly: Experts Expound: Single Payer Healthcare
Capitol Weekly recently published an article asking health care and state political experts for their thoughts on whether implementing a single payer health care system in California is realistic or not. Nearly all interviewed indicated that implementing a single payer system in California is not feasible nor necessary considering the strides that California has made in expanding health care coverage.
CAHP Press Release - Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans Making Significant Progress Addressing Health-Related Social Needs of Enrollees During Cal-AIM’s First Year
The California Association of Health Plans released the following statement addressing the recent release of the first CalAIM Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports Services (CS) enrollment report by the California Department of Health Care Services.
CAHP Press Release - Covered California Announces 2024 Preliminary Rate Change and Enhanced Financial Support For Consumers
Covered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2024, citing an average statewide rate change of 9.6 percent. Covered California and its partnering health plans have kept the average annual rate increase over the past five years to just 3.6 percent, with Californians in the individual market benefiting from among the lowest average rate increases in the nation, Covered California said.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Top Cost Drivers of 2024 - Health Plan Premiums
California’s Health Plan premium costs in 2024 will be driven by several factors across the individual and small group marketplaces, particularly: continued inflation driving increased provider reimbursement rates, health plans taking on more of the costs of COVID-19 vaccines and tests, uncertainty around Medi-Cal “redetermination”, and the continued rise in drug prices especially from emerging weight loss drugs and other specialty drugs.
CAHP Statement on California State Budget Agreement - Healthcare Provisions will Improve Access and Affordability for Millions of Californians
The California Association of Health Plans released a statement after the California State Legislature approved the final State budget agreement.
CAHP Press Release - The California Association of Health Plans Praises Passage of Historic MCO Tax Proposal by Assembly Budget Committee
The California Association of Health Plans today released a statement praising the passage by the California State Assembly Budget Committee of a historic MCO tax proposal dedicating much needed funding to bolster the Medi-Cal program.
CAHP Fact Sheet: SB 238 will Delay Much Needed Mental Health Care for California’s Youth
SB 238 is a counterproductive bill that will do the opposite of what it seeks to do by delaying care further for those seeking mental healthcare. It will also increase costs for the state’s health care system and all Californians.
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Health Care Mandates Would Drive Up Premiums By $943 Million
California’s health plans provide health care coverage for nearly 28 million people and are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care services. In 2023, California lawmakers are considering many new mandate bills that, as proposed, would altogether drive up premiums by at least $943 million.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Say No to SB 598: A Prescription for Low-Value Healthcare
Californians deserve safe, high quality, high-value health care. Yet SB 598 will derail the progress we have made in our health care system by lowering the value and safety that Californians should expect from their health care providers.
CAHP Fact Sheet: The Truth About Big Pharma's Insulin Prices
Big Pharma has a track record of raising insulin prices and there is no guarantee they will not decide to raise insulin prices again in the future. Big Pharma-backed co-pay cap legislation like Senate Bill 90 could lead to higher health care costs for all Californians by allowing big pharma to raise prices at will, without accountability.
CAHP Press Release - California Association of Health Plans Responds to Governor’s May Budget Revise
Today, the California Association of Health Plans released the following statement in response to the Governor’s May revision of the 2023-2024 budget proposal.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Vote NO on SB 70
Backed by pharmaceutical companies, SB 70 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: Get the Facts on Big Pharma-Backed SB 873
SB 873 has been disguised as prescription drug cost-saving legislation that will benefit patients, but in reality, SB 873 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: Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans Making A Difference For Enrollees Through Cal-AIM
California’s Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans are partnering with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on CalAIM — a multiyear initiative to improve health equity, quality of life, and health outcomes by evolving the Medi-Cal program.
CAHP Research Spotlight: Medi-Cal Whole Person Care Pilot Program Improved Care For High-Risk Patients
A recent University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) study found that California’s Whole Person Care (WPC) pilot program, which started in 2016 and ended in 2021, helped improve coordination of care and cut Medi-Cal costs for the state’s highest-risk patients.
ICYMI – The Wall Street Journal: The U.K.’s Government-Run Health Care Service is in Crisis
The Wall Street Journal this week published an article revealing the real-world struggles the U.K.’s government-run health care system is facing, even though it is often held up as a model system by activists seeking to establish a single-payer health care system here in the U.S. and California.
CAHP Press Release - CAHP Issues Statement on Governor's January 2023-2024 State Budget
California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi today issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2023-24 state budget proposal.
CAHP Fact Sheet: California's Health Care Dollar
The 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 2021, health plans spent nearly $207 billion, or 87 cents out of every health plan dollar, on medical care.
CAHP Press Release - CAHP Names New Legislative Advocate
The California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) today announced that Robert Boykin has joined the CAHP team as the association’s new legislative advocate. Boykin will help guide CAHP’s legislative advocacy efforts at the State Capitol.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Providing high quality health care through Medi-Cal Managed Care
With more than 14.7 million enrollees, California’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) provides comprehensive medical, behavioral, and mental health care benefits and services to one in three Californians. Within Medi-Cal, an estimated 12.4 million members are enrolled in Medi-Cal Managed Care, providing some of California’s most vulnerable populations with well-rounded services for improved health outcomes.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Prior Authorization Protects Patients From Low-Value Health Care
Californians deserve safe, high quality, high-value health care. Yet recent legislative efforts to dismantle prior authorization threaten to derail the progress we have made in our health care system by lowering the value and safety that Californians should expect and deserve from their health care providers.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Say No to SB 250: A Prescription for Low-Value Healthcare
Californians deserve safe, high quality, high-value health care. Yet SB 250 will derail the progress we have made in our health care system by lowering the value and safety that Californians should expect from their health care providers.
CAHP Press Release - ICYMI - CalMatters: Commentary: Medical-Procedure Oversight is Good for Patients and Pocketbooks
CalMatters today published an opinion editorial authored by Dr. Adam Solomon, chief medical officer for the MemorialCare Medical Foundation, a physician-run health care organization.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Top Cost Drivers of 2023 Health Plan Premiums
California’s Health Plan premium costs in 2023 will be driven by several factors across the individual and small group marketplaces, particularly the return of normal pre-pandemic medical trends, continued COVID-19 uncertainty, inflation, increased mental health and telehealth utilization, and other factors.
CAHP Press Release - Covered California Announces 2023 Preliminary Rate Change
Covered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2023, citing an average statewide rate change of six percent which is well below the national average of 10 percent.
CAHP Fact Sheet: Say No to SB 250: A Prescription for Low-Value Healthcare
Californians deserve safe, high quality, high-value health care. Yet SB 250 will derail the progress we’ve made in our
health care system by lowering the value and safety that Californians should expect from their health care providers.
CAHP Press Release - CAHP Names New Director of State Programs
CAHP today announced that Kate Ross has joined the CAHP team as the association’s new Director of State Programs. Ross will lead CAHP’s engagement on Medi-Cal, state and federal proposals, and policies that impact public programs and health plan operations. She will work with the Department of Health Care Services and other key stakeholders and agencies to advocate for policies and regulations that help to build and sustain California’s Medi-Cal program.
ICYMI - NPR: When routine medical tests trigger a cascade of costly, unnecessary care
National Public Radio this week published an in-depth story on how medical tests can spiral into a series of further testing that can cost patients thousands of dollars – something researches call a “cascade of care – a seemingly unstoppable series of medical tests or procedures.”
CAHP Fact Sheet: New Mandates Would Drive Up Premium Costs By $571 Million
California’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 $571 million.
ICYMI - Capitol Weekly: Opinion: Affordable health care threatened by hospitals’ mark-up costs
Capitol Weekly yesterday published an opinion editorial authored by Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association on Senate Bill 958 (Sen. Limón).
CAHP Fact Sheet: Vote NO on SB 853
Backed 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?
California 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
California’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
Today, 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
SB 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
SB 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
Medical 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
A 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
California 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
The 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
CAHP 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 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
Two 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
SB 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
Covered 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
Since 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)
As 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
A 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
CAHP 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
California 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
Today, 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
As 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
Covering 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
Health Plans Ensuring the Highest Quality Care
CAHP Fact Sheet: California's Health Care Dollar
The 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
CAHP 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
CAHP 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
Telehealth 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 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)
The 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)
The 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
Covered 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
Health 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
Researchers 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
The 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
Today, 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
California’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
CAHP 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
CAHP 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
CAHP 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
The 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
CAHP 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
CAHP 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
When 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
Prevention 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
California 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
The 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
RunawayRx 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
SACRAMENTO, 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
The 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
September 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
The 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%
New 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
CAHP 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
Covered 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
The 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
California 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
The 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
California 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
As 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.
The 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
The 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
The 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
AB 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
Legislation 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 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
SB 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
RunawayRx 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
Prescription drug benefits are an integral part of Medi-Cal managed care.
CAHP Statement: CAHP Issues Response to Newsom's State-of-the-State Address
California 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
Expanded 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
With 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
California 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
California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) President and CEO Charles Bacchi made a statement regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s new health care agenda.