Podcasts about Covered California

For a long time, California's Central Valley has been a bastion of conservative political support; the red spot in a state that's awash in blue. However, there are signs that support for the right could be wavering, as President Trump's policies on trade and immigration are impacting livelihoods in the Central Valley; and some of the biggest progressives in the country are eyeing the region as a place that is ready for change. Since Covered California went into effect more than ten years ago, millions of state residents have relied on the program to obtain healthcare, year after year. However, the trust that Californians have put into the program may start to fray, after a CalMatters investigation revealed that Covered California is sending people's personal information to private companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on AirTalk, California continues to struggle with job creation despite the state becoming the 4th largest economy in the world; Covered California investigated for sharing sensitive information with LinkedIn; How to build effective relationships and credibility at work; CEO of Edison International discusses the Eaton Fire and the way our bodies manage pain with age. Today on AirTalk CA job market idles as state GDP competes on the world stage (0:15) Covered California shares user information with LinkedIn (18:22) How to advocate for yourself at work (32:10) CEO of Edison discusses Eaton Fire (51:22) As we age, how do we manage pain? (1:24:27)

California is suing Trump again, this time about funding for worker safety and preschool funding. Striking mental healthcare workers have reached an agreement with Kaiser. An investigation finds LinkedIn got access to Covered California data without users permission. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com

California is full of hardworking people—nurses, teachers, delivery drivers, baristas—who keep our communities running. Many of them live paycheck-to-paycheck, making too much to qualify for most government benefits, but not enough to afford the basics. For nearly 2 million Californians, Covered California provides a critical lifeline, offering access to affordable health insurance and now basic needs support. Dr. Monica Soni, Chief Medical Officer of Covered California, joins Claudia to talk about the program's important and expanding role in the California landscape. We discuss:What the working poor really need: breathing room in their budgets to afford healthy foodOperating a startup within governmentHow collaboration across Covered California, Medi-Cal and CalPERS – which together cover 45% of Californians – will drive faster and more aligned health improvement in CaliforniaMonica's team uses experiments and user research to shape every aspect of the program:“But I do think in our DNA is this idea of innovation. In-house, we have a research team that does randomized controlled trials. We're committed to hyper transparency. Almost all of our data is released. We stratify it by everything we can think of to really identify where there might be pockets of coverage that aren't there or outcomes that are suboptimal. And we do a lot of deep listening with consumers and with the community to help inform what we do.“Relevant LinksRead more about Covered California's Innovative Program to Improve Population HealthSee the details on Covered California's Data and Research toolsAnnouncement of the launch of Covered Californians Population Health InvestmentsMore info on how Covered California uses email nudges for enrollmentAbout Our GuestDr. S. Monica Soni is the Chief Medical Officer, and a Chief Deputy Executive Director at Covered California, leading the organization's Health Equity and Quality Transformation division. In this capacity she is responsible for health equity, health care strategy, medical policy, and other clinical operations to continuously improve not only the health services provided through Covered California's contracted health plans, but also California's delivery system.She is a board-certified internal medicine physician with more than a decade of experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings and continues to see patients. She is an Associate Professor within the UCLA Department of Medicine and the Charles R. Drew University Department of Internal Medicine, where she is committed to residency diversification and pipeline development.Prior to joining Covered California, Dr. Soni served as Associate Chief Medical Officer within Evolent Health focused on the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective specialty care for the over 16 million supported Medicaid lives across the United States. During her time at the organization, she played a critical role in clinical informatics, provider engagement, value-based strategies and innovation. Dr. Soni also served as the Director of Specialty Care for the Los Angeles County Department of Health

LIVE from Transform 2025 in Las Vegas! Amira Barger is an award-winning Executive Vice President of Communications and Head of DEI Advisory at Edelman, providing senior reputation management and polycultural counsel to clients across the globe. Recently named Woman of the Year by Women Health Care Executives, Top 100 Executives by Involve People, Top CMOs of 2024 by the CMO Alliance, Top 50 Global DEI Professionals by OnConferences, Top 100 People Leaders by Mogul, Fearlessly Authentic Leader by Leaderology, and 30 under 40 in Healthcare Innovation by Business Insider – Amira is a scholar, practitioner and thought leader who brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications that reach stakeholders, mobilize the community and inspire action. Amira has global experience in pharma/healthcare communications, corporate branding, web and social media, M&A experience, media relations, team management, sustainability/social impact, reputation management, and DEI. Throughout her career, Amira has utilized these competency areas for clients such as: CVS Health, Eli Lilly, Walgreens, Hologic, Genentech, Pfizer, GSK/Haleon, BMS, Zoetis, Alkermes, Regeneron, Amgen, Medtronic, Children's Miracle Network, Kaiser Permanente, First 5 Los Angeles, Covered California, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FEMA, and California Community Colleges. Adam and Amira discuss: - How does “niceness” in workplace culture hold back real DEI progress, and what should leaders do instead? - Challenging Workplace Norms to Advance DEI and Justice - Empowering Women in Leadership - Valuing the Whole Human - "How can leaders move beyond surface-level well-being initiatives to truly create workplaces that honor employees as whole humans, not just workers? Connect with Amira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirabarger/ Live from Transform 2025, we're bringing you an exclusive podcast series packed with insights from some of the brightest minds in hiring, talent strategy, and workforce transformation! In this series, we've got incredible guests from Okta, Tubi, Edelman, Greenhouse, Findem, and more, sharing how top organizations are rethinking hiring, culture, and talent acquisition in today's fast-changing world. Greenhouse combines a structured, data-driven hiring approach with AI-embedded workflows that empower recruiters to focus on strategic, high-impact work. From sourcing top talent to personalizing the candidate experience, Greenhouse streamlines and optimizes the entire hiring process. This ensures that every hire is the right hire—eliminating bias, creating fairness, and helping teams make smarter, faster decisions. Over 7,500 companies, including HubSpot, Duolingo, and J.D. Power, trust Greenhouse to build better teams and turn talent into a strategic advantage. Want to learn how today's top companies are winning the talent game? Tune in now and visit Greenhouse.com to transform the way you hire. Thanks for listening. Please follow us on Instagram @NHPTalent and X @AdamJPosner. Visit www.thePOZcast.com for all episodes

Hello Listeners!  In this classic episode, we heard from two esteemed actuaries: John Bertko, FSA, MAAA, an independent actuarial consultant serving as the Chief Actuary with Covered California, and Steve Goss, ASA, MAAA, the Chief Actuary at the Social Security Administration discussing the implications of a new U.S. administration on actuarial practice.  This podcast originally published in January 2021, capturing the thoughts and perspectives of our experts during a pivotal time of transition. We hope you enjoy this insightful discussion and find it as relevant today as it was when it first aired.  Sit back, relax and enjoy this Research Insights Classic!

California could lose billions of dollars in health funding if the Trump administration follows through on GOP plans to overhaul Medicaid, which provides healthcare for low-income people. Trump policies could also have major implications for Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, and for health care programs addressing homelessness and reproductive health . We'll talk with state assembly health committee chair Mia Bonta and others about what services are most vulnerable, and how California officials are preparing. Guests: Mia Bonta, state assemblymember representing the 18th assembly district in the East Bay and chair of the assembly health committee Angela Hart, senior correspondent covering health care politics and policy in California and the West, KFF Health News Mark Peterson, professor of public policy, political science, health policy and management, and law, UCLA; senior fellow at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

In today's newscast, the opening of the Dungeness crab season was delayed due to migrating whales. And Covered California is already seeing record enrollment—and it remains open until the end of the month.

South Chico Community Assistance Center volunteers say there's an increased need for food this winter than in the past. Also, Covered California urges residents to enroll for health insurance amid record number enrollments, and Christmas tree disposal begins in Chico. Waste Management is offering curbside pickup service for the next three weeks.

Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Latino Imperial County goes for Trump California coastal enclave near sanctuary city tries to 'Newsom-proof' itselfCalifornia's unemployment numbers are in. How do they rank nationally?Newsom proposes $25M from state legislature to 'Trump-proof' CaliforniaCalifornia will not help Trump's deportation plans, Alex Padilla saysSen.-elect Adam Schiff doesn't want to talk about Trump. He wants to talk about the economyFederal immigration law Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(a) Offenses Thousands of DACA immigrants are now eligible for Covered California. Here's how to applyL.A. politicians ask Trump for $3.2 billion to pay for Olympic transportation projectsPBGC approves 100th SFA application: ILWU Employers' - Warehousemen's PlanColumn: Why California's favorite bagel shop is defending fossil fuelsIndigenous Diplomacy and Spanish Mediation in the Lower Colorado–Gila River Region, 1771–1783

Open enrollment for Covered California is now underway and for the first time it includes DACA recipients. In other news, three years ago, Amazon opened a fulfillment center in one of Tijuana's poorest neighborhoods and residents hoped the company would make big investments in the community, but those expectations remain largely unfulfilled. Plus, California law requires the state's electricity grid to get 100% of its energy from renewable resources by 2045. We learn about new research that shows a path to that goal is paved with a lot of stored energy.

Jagdip Dhillon - Covered California full 710 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:00:21 +0000 XOvz6lcFgJMPkDrvkGVhzFtMQmcx8y2Z government Spirit of the I.E. government Jagdip Dhillon - Covered California Spirit of the I.E. with Vicki Pepper 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Government False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A

Extreme land movement has forced gas utility shut offs in Rancho Palos Verdes. An earthquake near Barstow is felt from L.A. to Las Vegas. Covered California health insurance rates are going up. Plus, more. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com.  Support the show: https://laist.com

Covered California es el mercado de seguros de salud del estado, donde loscalifornianos pueden encontrar seguros asequibles y de alta calidad de las mejorescompañías de seguros. La continuación de este éxito de Pixar nos presenta una vez más a Riley junto con sus emociones Alegría, Tristeza, Furia, Temor y Desagrado, ahora enfrentándose a la pubertad y todas las situaciones a las que una niña de su edad se puede enfrentar de forma social, ahora con la presencia de Ansiedad, Envidia, Aburrimiento y Vergüenza.

Covered California es el mercado de seguros de salud del estado, donde loscalifornianos pueden encontrar seguros asequibles y de alta calidad de las mejorescompañías de seguros. La continuación de este éxito de Pixar nos presenta una vez más a Riley junto con sus emociones Alegría, Tristeza, Furia, Temor y Desagrado, ahora enfrentándose a la pubertad y todas las situaciones a las que una niña de su edad se puede enfrentar de forma social, ahora con la presencia de Ansiedad, Envidia, Aburrimiento y Vergüenza.

Ronald's narrative unfolds as a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and an unyielding dedication to helping others achieve financial success. Born into a modest family, he embraced the values of hard work and resourcefulness from an early age. Ronald's initial journey led him to the nursing field, where he dedicated eight years of his life working alongside physicians in mid-size to large hospitals.Within the bustling healthcare environment, Ronald observed the intricate interplay between healthcare professionals and the financial intricacies of running a medical practice. Inspired by the physicians he collaborated with, he developed a keen interest in the financial aspects of their work. However, he soon realized that merely being part of the healthcare system did not guarantee financial security.Motivated by a desire for financial independence, Ronald sought guidance from financial companies, hoping to leverage their expertise in planning his path to autonomy. Unfortunately, he encountered barriers in the form of fees that seemed counterproductive to his financial goals.Rather than succumbing to discouragement, these challenges fueled Ronald's determination to take control of his financial destiny. Undeterred, he embarked on a journey of self-education, attending events and seminars to gain insights into personal finance, investment strategies, and retirement planning. Along the way, Ronald forged valuable partnerships with industry leaders, including Transamerica Corporation and Covered California, gaining a deeper understanding of financial practices across various industries.While working with large financial institutions, Ronald realized that the industry lacked a company that could seamlessly combine financial solutions, financial literacy, and collaboration among financial professionals, mirroring the collaborative nature of the medical field. In 2017, he founded Curious Finance, driven by a mission to address these gaps and provide proactive consulting services.Ronald's transformation extended beyond personal gain; it became a mission to empower others. Recognizing the lack of financial literacy among peers and the younger generation, he became a Certified Financial Education Instructor with the National Financial Educator's Council (NFEC), equipped to share his knowledge with those eager to navigate the complexities of personal finance.His community-oriented approach led him to engage with young entrepreneurs in the Bay Area, serving as a judge for the Network of Teaching Entrepreneurship. Collaborating with business partners, he conducted personal finance workshops for students at California State University East Bay (CSUEB) and UC Davis, contributing to the financial education of the next generation.Ronald's commitment to financial education expanded as he joined the NFEC's Personal Finance Speakers Association, broadening his reach and influence. His dedication to continuous learning is evident in his regular consumption of financial literature, keeping him at the forefront of industry trends.Beyond his professional endeavors, Ronald is a man of diverse interests. He finds joy in traveling, attending sports events, and actively engaging in community volunteering, including initiatives for clean communities and blood donation. He passionately supports impactful community foundations.Yet, amidst these varied pursuits, Ronald cherishes moments spent with his wife and two children, especially during family travels and shared experiences. His story is one of transformation, from navigating hospital corridors as a healthcare professional to becoming a Business Financial Consultant dedicated to empowering individuals, families, businesses, and communities. Ronald's journey reflects not only personal growth but also a profound commitment to sharing the knowledge acquired along the way, ensuring that others can also chart their paths to financial prosperity.Learn more: https://www.curious-finance.com/Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-ronald-flores-founder-ceo-of-curious-finance

Ronald's narrative unfolds as a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and an unyielding dedication to helping others achieve financial success. Born into a modest family, he embraced the values of hard work and resourcefulness from an early age. Ronald's initial journey led him to the nursing field, where he dedicated eight years of his life working alongside physicians in mid-size to large hospitals.Within the bustling healthcare environment, Ronald observed the intricate interplay between healthcare professionals and the financial intricacies of running a medical practice. Inspired by the physicians he collaborated with, he developed a keen interest in the financial aspects of their work. However, he soon realized that merely being part of the healthcare system did not guarantee financial security.Motivated by a desire for financial independence, Ronald sought guidance from financial companies, hoping to leverage their expertise in planning his path to autonomy. Unfortunately, he encountered barriers in the form of fees that seemed counterproductive to his financial goals.Rather than succumbing to discouragement, these challenges fueled Ronald's determination to take control of his financial destiny. Undeterred, he embarked on a journey of self-education, attending events and seminars to gain insights into personal finance, investment strategies, and retirement planning. Along the way, Ronald forged valuable partnerships with industry leaders, including Transamerica Corporation and Covered California, gaining a deeper understanding of financial practices across various industries.While working with large financial institutions, Ronald realized that the industry lacked a company that could seamlessly combine financial solutions, financial literacy, and collaboration among financial professionals, mirroring the collaborative nature of the medical field. In 2017, he founded Curious Finance, driven by a mission to address these gaps and provide proactive consulting services.Ronald's transformation extended beyond personal gain; it became a mission to empower others. Recognizing the lack of financial literacy among peers and the younger generation, he became a Certified Financial Education Instructor with the National Financial Educator's Council (NFEC), equipped to share his knowledge with those eager to navigate the complexities of personal finance.His community-oriented approach led him to engage with young entrepreneurs in the Bay Area, serving as a judge for the Network of Teaching Entrepreneurship. Collaborating with business partners, he conducted personal finance workshops for students at California State University East Bay (CSUEB) and UC Davis, contributing to the financial education of the next generation.Ronald's commitment to financial education expanded as he joined the NFEC's Personal Finance Speakers Association, broadening his reach and influence. His dedication to continuous learning is evident in his regular consumption of financial literature, keeping him at the forefront of industry trends.Beyond his professional endeavors, Ronald is a man of diverse interests. He finds joy in traveling, attending sports events, and actively engaging in community volunteering, including initiatives for clean communities and blood donation. He passionately supports impactful community foundations.Yet, amidst these varied pursuits, Ronald cherishes moments spent with his wife and two children, especially during family travels and shared experiences. His story is one of transformation, from navigating hospital corridors as a healthcare professional to becoming a Business Financial Consultant dedicated to empowering individuals, families, businesses, and communities. Ronald's journey reflects not only personal growth but also a profound commitment to sharing the knowledge acquired along the way, ensuring that others can also chart their paths to financial prosperity.Learn more: https://www.curious-finance.com/Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-ronald-flores-founder-ceo-of-curious-finance

Hoy 31 de enero será el último día que los Californianos sin seguro se podrán inscribir en un plan de salud al seguro médico de Covered California, la agencia gubernamental de salud que ofrece planes conocidos como Obamacare que son subsidiados por el estado. Despidos masivos a periodistas –entre ellos, muchos latinos– y el caso de José Huizar, un ejemplo de lucha que se desmoronó por ambición.

Hoy 31 de enero será el último día que los Californianos sin seguro se podrán inscribir en un plan de salud al seguro médico de Covered California, la agencia gubernamental de salud que ofrece planes conocidos como Obamacare que son subsidiados por el estado. Despidos masivos a periodistas –entre ellos, muchos latinos– y el caso de José Huizar, un ejemplo de lucha que se desmoronó por ambición.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dr. Aaron Bryant on a wide range of issues.Dr. Bryant journey spans over three decades, where he ventured across healthcare, technology, and consultancy landscapes to bring value to organizations as a:

Dr. Monica Soni gives us the ABC's of getting health insurance (open enrollment deadline is 1/31/24.) There's more money available than you think and there are more reasons to sign up than you probably know. For info call (800) 300-1506 www.coveredca.com

Rady Children's hospital secretly surveilled a bedridden teenager and her parents, using at least one hidden camera in a hospital room, and according to a lawsuit filed by the family, it was done without a warrant. The family is now suing Rady and San Diego County in federal and state court. In other news, open enrollment for Covered California is here again. Plus, in July, a New York hedge fund with a reputation for staff cuts bought The San Diego Union-Tribune. We look to newspapers in neighboring counties to see what could happen next.

This upcoming Saturday is Nisenan Heritage Day. It celebrates the Nisenan people who have resided in the Sierra foothills for thousands of years. KVMR's Al Stahler speaks with Nisenan spokesperson, Shelly Covert, about what the day represents, and Nisenan culture and history in its whole.Did you know that immigrants can be held in ICE jails for months or even years while they wait for their deportation and asylum cases to be heard? California Senator Alex Padilla is calling on the Biden administration to change that – the California Report has the details.Then, after a look at local news and weather, The California News Service reports on Covered California's new open enrollment term, and how you may or may not be eligible to reap its benefits.

Two years after a massive sewage spill in Playa del Rey, air regulators find a toxic chemical present in the air. Covered California raises insurance premiums. An update on LA's efforts to increase tree canopy by at least fifty percent. Plus, more. Support The L.A. Report by donating now at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com.      Support the show: https://laist.com

James Scullary, Broadcast and Media Relations Branch Chief for Covered California and Yingjia Huang, Assistant Deputy Director for the Department of Health Care Services, discusses changes coming to Medi-Cal. 

#042 - Today we are talking to Matt Day, the owner and operator of Planter Day, a mission-driven plant shop located in Rockridge that is dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and promoting mental health resources.  Matt decided to pick some weeds one day after visiting his mom in the hospital while she battled cancer. The pain and grief from her passing in October 2018 left Matt unable to work and get through his day-to-day duties.  He found solace in gardening, however.  He and his partner Yumi landscaped their yard and grew flowers and vegetables. Digging his hands into the soil proved therapeutic and he wanted to share that power of healing with others.“Our primary purpose is for the business is the use of horticultural therapy to help people heal because that's what plants have done for us - really help us heal through personal traumas through the pandemic.”Planter Day is located on College Ave in Rockridge.  It is more than just a plant store.  The shop serves as a community hub for meetings where independent vendors, artists, and chefs can share their products with the community during weekend pop-ups.  They also host after hours events - comedy shows, workshops, poetry meetings, etc…  They even had a movie and a Covered California commercial filmed there.Matt is driven by community over profit.  He is well aware that he needs profit to keep the lights on and the doors open, but he wants to have a wider impact on the community.  They are proud to be a mission driven organization.  They donate a portion of all of their sales proceeds to the Oakland based Crisis Support Services of Alameda County.  When I asked him about success, he said…..“Success is in the eye of the beholder.  For us, money is not a metric of success.  What is more meaningful is that we 1) can provide sustainable income for employees - we have 2 people on payroll right now 2) donate to charity - local charities that provide healing for our community - Yumi and I were both raised in the East Bay and 3) providing a platform for other small local businesses to sell their goods at to no cost to them - we like to open up our space and 4)  have a wider impact on the community.” Be sure to listen to the whole interview to hear Matt's story about how help starts at home.

In this episode, I spoke with Dr. Alice Hm Chen, Chief Medical Officer at Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, which actively works to ensure that Californians can find affordable, high-quality coverage. Dr. Chen has held leadership positions across state government and academic institutions with an aim to enhance access and quality of care for vulnerable communities. As a clinician, her unique perspective on health delivery systems, primary care investment, the social determinants of health, and advocacy imparts key insights for current and future leaders in healthcare and policy.

In this Library Release of Fight Back!, we talk with Peter Lee, Executive Director for California's health insurance marketplace, Covered California. Here in California, the open enrollment period ends at the end of the year. Join us as we talk about the key things you need to know about enrolling in healthcare. In our conversation, Peter provides valuable insight into the many facets of the Covered California program, including what options consumers have for obtaining affordable health insurance even if they lose their employment, how middle and low-income families can access subsidies for premiums and co-pays, how the open and special enrollment windows operate, the value of shopping around for the best possible plan, the status of the COVID-19 vaccination program, and much more.

What people eat, where they live, and how much they earn can impact their overall health more than the medical care they receive — sometimes much more. Now, for the first time, federal policymakers are trying to measure and screen for what are known as the drivers of health.  On this week's episode of The Dose,Shanoor Seervai talks with Alice Chen, M.D., chief medical officer at Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, about gathering momentum in the health sector to acknowledge and address nonmedical risk factors for health.  Chen, a physician with years of experience caring for underserved patients (as well as a former Commonwealth Fund Harvard Fellow in Minority Health Policy), explains how food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation issues, among others, are all inextricably linked to people's health.  “As people started thinking about how you actually improve health and not just provide transactional health care services, you start to widen your lens and realize, oh, there are all these other factors that are actually driving population health,” she says.  For the next few months, The Dose will be going on hiatus. We'll be back in touch in the new year with more conversations about how to make health care better for all Americans.

Authors Andrew Feher, PhD, of Covered California, and Adrianna McIntyre, PhD, MPP, MPH, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, speak with JAMA Health Forum Editor John Ayanian, MD, MPP, and Deputy Editor Melinda Buntin, PhD, about research on the best ways to help people losing Medicaid coverage to enroll in health insurance Marketplace plans so they do not become uninsured. Related Content: Effect of Personalized Outreach on Medicaid to Marketplace Coverage Transitions Evidence-Based Outreach Strategies for Minimizing Coverage Loss During Unwinding

Peter Lee, Executive Director of Covered California, talks about the many facets of the Covered California program, including who qualifies, how the program works, what options consumers have if they lose their job, and how to navigate the open enrollment process.

Covered California explains why health insurance rates are projected to increase. Author of “The Fight to Save the Town: Reimagining Discarded America” discusses lessons from Stockton. Woodland Opera House performs the Broadway musical “In the Heights.” Covered California rate increases

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more people to use medical care, especially here in California.  And as a result, Covered California has announced that they are increasing the cost of medical insurance by an average of 6% for the 1.7 million people who purchase coverage through the state-run health insurance marketplace. Covered California also announced an expansion of medical providers with up to four choices for most users.  For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Steven Shortell, Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management Emeritus and Dean Emeritus, at the School of Public Health, at UC Berkeley.

Dave Dillon interviews Covered California's John Bertko about a wide-range of health insurance and healthcare reform topics

Suzanne calls Alice Hm Chen, Chief Medical Officer at Covered California, and asks about her work in quality measurement and health equity. As the nation's largest state-based health insurance exchange, how is Covered California thinking about its responsibility to deliver equitable care to its member population? "I think a key thing for everyone to embrace is, equity is quality...you won't get to true high-quality care unless you are addressing equity."

Suzanne calls up Peter Lee, the former Executive Director of Covered California to talk about the last twenty years in health care reform. He explains how many of the payment reforms executed in the commercial space have really been on the margins, and many employees are spending more for worse care than ever before. So what's the problem? Lack of real alignment on measures, and not enough dollars at play at the right level. "We focused a lot on provider level payment...not at the health plans. Health care is a team sport, if we aren't making the quarterback of the team, the health plans, accountable for quality and value, nothing is going to happen."

Amid covid-19, the potential overturn of Roe v. Wade, and a war in Europe, the Affordable Care Act has been flying under the radar in 2022. But this will be a pivotal year for the federal health law. Unless Congress acts, millions of Americans could see their costs for coverage rise dramatically as expanded subsidies expire. At the same time, the end of the public health emergency could boost the uninsured rate as states disenroll people from Medicaid. Peter Lee, who recently stepped down as the first executive director of the largest state-run ACA insurance marketplace, Covered California, has thought long and hard about how the ACA came to be, how it's been implemented, and what should happen to it now. He joins host and KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the ACA.Click here for a transcript of the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

START-UP or BUY an Existing Dental Practice?Today we are joined by Dr. Antigone Skoulas to discuss choosing a START-UP or BUYING an Existing Dental Practice and much more!Dr. Antigone Skoulas has a deeply engrained passion for helping people. She has the desire to serve beyond her current patients as a clinician, and rather impact the community holistically. Her well-rounded and unique education at UCLA (BS), University of Pacific (DDS), and Pepperdine (MBA) set her up for success in each of her future appointments and roles. She began a start-up dental practice from scratch in the financial district of San Francisco six years ago. Three years ago, she purchased and merged into an existing practice in Union Square where she is currently full-time.She provides her patients with the highest standard of care, always advancing in her clinical technique and education. She is on the path to be a Kois Graduate, accredited with the AACD, and a fellow of the AGD hopefully within the next two year. Her clinical passions include porcelain veneers, the art of composite, adhesive dentistry, CAD/CAM design with digital workflow, and full mouth reconstructive cases. She loves building her portfolio through beautiful photography.Dr. Skoulas has shined in the industry as a bright and talented leader. She was selected as the Vice Chair of the highly competitive California Dental Association New Dentist Committee. In addition, she held a role as a delegate to the CDA House of Delegates representing Los Angeles. During her 3-year tenure, she contributed significant amount of time and effort to creating progressive impact on many key issues. These positions allowed her to voice her opinion on policy changes that would affect the dental industry as a whole. Her input helped in reformatting the dental board examinations nationally, modifying the licensure examination to the option of portfolio testing, advancing the creation of a mid-level provider in oral healthcare, as well as providing input on changes in dental insurance for patients through Covered California.Her passion to stay informed and impact change and progress in her industry and healthcare are very clear to everyone she touches. Her creativity is evident as she always goes above and beyond each of her obligations in order to provide progress for future generations and raise the bar in everything that she does.Want to learn more about Dr. Antigone Skoulas?Visit: www.SkoulasDDS.comWant to Listen to all of The Dental Brief Episodes?Visit:  www.dentalbrief.comOur Sponsor: OmniPremier.com

Chris Cruz | Vertical CIO, SLEDChris Cruz serves as Tanium's Vertical CIO for SLED (State, Local, Education), bringing over 30 years of government and public sector leadership to the role, including tenure as the Director and CIO for the County of San Joaquin in Stockton, California. Prior to this position, he served as the State of California's Deputy CIO, and was the CIO for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Health Care Services, and was the first such leader for the Health Benefits Exchange, now referred to as Covered California. Cruz earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from California State University at Sacramento, and a certification from the UC Davis Master's Program in Leadership Excellence. He was recognized by State Scoop as one of the 2020 County Executive Leaders of the Year, and received national honors from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) as the 2018 State Technology Innovator of the Year.In this episode Chris shares:How is love of the Tanium solution and the company culture lead him to leave government after 30 years to come to Tanium.Did his perspective about the company change once he got a chance to peek behind the curtain and become an employee.?Learn about his Business Transformation Architecture and how it transformed a city and county and state's thinking about IT.How the Tanium platform compliments the Business Transformation Architecture. The importance of sales inside an organization to facilitate change.How to get the security and operations side of the house to talk to each other and move the ball forward because the old model of IT structure is dead.Register for Converge here http://bit.ly/TaniumConverge Converge provides customers, prospects and partners with invaluable insight into how Tanium supports their IT, security, and business operations across their IT estate. Attendees learn best practices through keynote addresses, breakout sessions, hands-on training, and networking opportunities led by experts and each other.

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. World leaders and activists gather for COP26 climate talks, indigenous leaders call for seat at the table. West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin rebuff's Build Back Better Act, demands vote on bipartisan infrastructure first. Supreme Court hears challenge to Texas' extreme anti-abortion law. World COVID-19 death toll tops 5 million in less than 2 years. White House says it's ready to roll out 28 million COVID-19 vaccines for 5-11 year olds, if CDC advisors approve it this week. Berkeley and Marin, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties relax indoor mask wearing mandates, amid low COVID-19 infections. Covered California opens enrollment for 2022 with increased federal subsidies to help lower health care costs. Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash.   The post World leaders and activists gather for COP26 climate talks; Supreme Court hears challenge to Texas abortion ban; Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin Counties lift indoor mask mandates appeared first on KPFA.

Peter V. Lee, Executive Director of Covered California, joins host Don Antonucci for a conversation about the importance of meaningful health care coverage, investing in quality health care, and measuring metrics that matter. In this episode recorded in February 2021, Peter shares his perspectives on health care policy, population-based payment models, health disparities and inequities, and opportunities to make substantial progress in making health care affordable and accessible to all Californians.

Listen to the full radio report here, first aired September 24, 2020: https://kpfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BOONE-Prop-22-Explainer.mp3 jQuery(document).ready(function($) { var media = $('#audio-344185-52'); media.on('canplay', function (ev) { this.currentTime = 0; }); });   By Ariel Boone (@arielboone), KPFA elections reporter OAKLAND, CA – Ride-hailing and delivery companies Uber, Lyft, Doordash, Postmates and Instacart have spent at least $182 million in support of Proposition 22, which California voters will decide in November.  At issue is the basic question: are drivers independent contractors, or should they be guaranteed all of the rights of employees, like minimum wage, overtime, workers compensation and unemployment insurance? Proposition 22 would permanently classify drivers for app companies as independent contractors. “What Prop 22 would do is protect the ability of app based drivers to choose to work as independent contractors, with control over where, when, how long and for whom they wanna work,” says Geoff Vetter, a spokesperson for the Yes on 22 campaign. “What we know from speaking with rideshare and delivery drivers is that more than 70 percent say that they want the ability to remain independent contractors.” Driver John Mejia disagrees. He drove for Uber and Lyft for just over four years, and he says the flexibility is a myth. He wants to be treated as an employee, in accordance with AB 5. For years, Mejia recalls, he would log into the Uber and Lyft apps to drive, and see a notice informing him his pay rate would decrease. Each time, he pressed “accept” — that was the only way to continue working. “They've always controlled how much I make when, when I get paid the most and under their algorithms,” Mejia says. “Is that independence? Not really. Is that, is that flexibility? Not really.” The workplace rights of John Mejia and thousands of other app drivers became a state policy fight in 2018, when the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision called Dynamex. It created a simple test to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.  To pass the Dynamex ABC test and classify their its drivers as independent contractors, Uber, Lyft, Doordash and their industry would have to prove that, A – Their drivers are “free from the control and direction of the company”; B – that the driving they do would is “outside the usual course of the company's business”; And C – That the driver is engaged in an independent trade or small business. Though lawsuits are currently making their way through courts deciding the matter, labor experts tell KPFA that multiple federal judges have agreed that app companies fail the ABC test — and that drivers are employees. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, the author of AB 5, a bill that incorporated the Dynamex decision into state law, agrees. “There is no way for a delivery driver, an Uber driver, to fit into this idea of being a small business,” she says. “They don't set their own rates. They don't make their own decisions. they're told where to go, when to go. there there's just a lot of control in the entire aspect of it.” “What I realized after driving with them almost for four and a half years, was that it was never about the relationship with the driver. It was really about their relationship to making money.” – John Mejia, driver for Uber and Lyft Six weeks after Governor Newsom signed AB 5 in 2019, delivery and ride-hailing companies filed paperwork to put Proposition 22 on the ballot, and exempt themselves from the law. Proposition 22 has support from police unions, multiple chambers of commerce, and the California Republican Party. In fact, the Yes on 22 campaign this month transferred $2 million to the California Republican Party to support campaigning efforts for the measure. It's opposed by labor unions, including the Teamsters, SEIU, United Food and Commercial Workers and the California Labor Federation as well as high-profile Democrats, like presidential nominee Joe Biden and senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren. What's inside Prop 22? Prop 22 would would permanently classify drivers for the app companies as independent contractors, not employees. It also contains some things that look like worker protections: It bars companies from stealing tips from drivers, a practice which is already illegal for employers to do to employees. It mandates drivers rest after working for 12 hours — though drivers could easily flout the law by switching to a second app.  It makes app companies pay a healthcare subsidy for drivers to buy insurance through Covered California. But the subsidy is based on the price of a “bronze” plan, known for high deductibles and fees.  Plus, Prop 22 creates a minimum pay system, something drivers have long demanded, which the app companies say is a historic wage guarantee. The initiative promises 30 cents a mile and 120 percent of minimum wage for hours worked. But there's a catch: labor attorneys say the companies found a way to undercount work hours. “The ballot proposition would only pay drivers for about two-thirds of the time that they're actually working, because it only pays them for engaged time,” says Rey Fuentes, a legal fellow at the Partnership for Working Families.  “The companies funded research that clearly indicates drivers spend about a third of their time waiting, logged on, engaged to work — or essentially engaged to wait. And that time is compensable. Under California law, you should be paid for that time.” Another study by UC Santa Cruz researchers suggested the unpaid waiting time for San Francisco gig drivers could be closer to 20-24 percent of their working time. Whatever the proportion, under Prop 22, waiting time would remain uncompensated.  The Yes on 22 campaign told KPFA that they intentionally limited driver pay to this so-called “engaged time” to prevent drivers from double dipping, earning money to wait on two apps at the same time. But two drivers told KPFA they feel the apps keep them waiting without pay on purpose to “maximize profits” and increase the availability of instant rides and deliveries for customers. Another thing Proposition 22 does: restrain lawmakers. If the state legislature wants to give app drivers a legal right to unionize or collectively bargain, they have to amend Prop 22, and that requires a seven-eigths supermajority vote. The part of the measure that makes drivers independent contractors could never be amended, Rey Fuentes says. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez says she's “never” seen a ballot initiative with a seven-eighths threshold. “Sometimes it requires a three fourth vote of the legislature, but seven-eighths is almost laughable.” Geoff Vetter, the Yes on 22 spokesperson, says it's intentional. “We think it's important that the voice of drivers and voters be protected, so that if Proposition 22 passes in November, the legislature can't come back in January and completely undo it.” No sick leave, and a raging pandemic Another impact Prop 22 might have: keeping drivers on the job while they're sick. Independent contractors don't get the paid sick leave that state and local laws require for employees.  Labor rights lawyer Rey Fuentes says this means Proposition 22 would even override more generous local laws in places like San Francisco, where employees are currently guaranteed access to up to nine days of paid sick leave. “The ballot proposition would make that law inaccessible to workers for companies like Doordash and Uber and Lyft, and leave them with zero paid sick leave,” he says. KPFA spoke with a driver named Edan Alva, who had no legal protections or sick leave when he fell seriously ill with the flu in January. Driving has been Alva's primary source of income since 2018, and seeing a doctor would have cost him $120, which he could not afford.  “I had to work sick, putting myself and my passengers at risk,” he says. “And I hated myself for doing that. But the choice was between working sick and losing the roof over my head. I worked as much as I could just until I earned enough money to pay my rent. And then I just physically couldn't work or really move much anymore.”  Edan Alva now volunteers for a group called Gig Workers Rising, which is campaigning against Prop 22. He stopped driving when the pandemic started, and says he won't go back unless he feels safe. The CDC currently recommends companies pay for worker sick leave — so they don't go to work sick, and possibly spread a deadly disease. Thousands of drivers have also struggled to access pandemic unemployment insurance, because Uber and Lyft have declined to report driver earnings to the state. John Mejia filed for pandemic unemployment insurance, but the companies wouldn't confirm to the state that he worked for them, even though he had his earnings documented on a 1099. “They made it difficult for me,” Mejia says. “I actually got some unemployment insurance, but it took me just under six months before I saw any money from them.” The UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education conducted analysis that found Uber and Lyft would owe the state of California's unemployment insurance fund $413 million, if they had classified their drivers as employees. For now, California is continuing to pay out, despite the companies not paying in. Rebecca Smith of the National Employment Law Project says, “if you are an employee, you're entitled to all of those things. You're entitled to minimum wage, and overtime, and health and safety protections, and paid sick days. And in California, paid family leave and unemployment benefits when you lose your job and workers' compensation when you're injured, much of that is taken away by this initiative and it's taken away permanently.” A 2020 study from UC Santa Cruz of gig drivers in San Francisco said 45% of the workers couldn't handle a $400 financial emergency without having to borrow money. The study also estimates that up to 1 in 5 drivers might be earning nothing at all once expenses are accounted for.   The post What's inside Prop 22, Uber and Lyft's $182M ballot measure on the fate of gig drivers? appeared first on KPFA.

Listen to the full radio report here, first aired September 24, 2020: https://kpfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BOONE-Prop-22-Explainer.mp3 jQuery(document).ready(function($) { var media = $('#audio-344185-19'); media.on('canplay', function (ev) { this.currentTime = 0; }); });   By Ariel Boone (@arielboone), KPFA elections reporter OAKLAND, CA – Ride-hailing and delivery companies Uber, Lyft, Doordash, Postmates and Instacart have spent at least $182 million in support of Proposition 22, which California voters will decide in November.  At issue is the basic question: are drivers independent contractors, or should they be guaranteed all of the rights of employees, like minimum wage, overtime, workers compensation and unemployment insurance? Proposition 22 would permanently classify drivers for app companies as independent contractors. “What Prop 22 would do is protect the ability of app based drivers to choose to work as independent contractors, with control over where, when, how long and for whom they wanna work,” says Geoff Vetter, a spokesperson for the Yes on 22 campaign. “What we know from speaking with rideshare and delivery drivers is that more than 70 percent say that they want the ability to remain independent contractors.” Driver John Mejia disagrees. He drove for Uber and Lyft for just over four years, and he says the flexibility is a myth. He wants to be treated as an employee, in accordance with AB 5. For years, Mejia recalls, he would log into the Uber and Lyft apps to drive, and see a notice informing him his pay rate would decrease. Each time, he pressed “accept” — that was the only way to continue working. “They've always controlled how much I make when, when I get paid the most and under their algorithms,” Mejia says. “Is that independence? Not really. Is that, is that flexibility? Not really.” The workplace rights of John Mejia and thousands of other app drivers became a state policy fight in 2018, when the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision called Dynamex. It created a simple test to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.  To pass the Dynamex ABC test and classify their its drivers as independent contractors, Uber, Lyft, Doordash and their industry would have to prove that, A – Their drivers are “free from the control and direction of the company”; B – that the driving they do would is “outside the usual course of the company's business”; And C – That the driver is engaged in an independent trade or small business. Though lawsuits are currently making their way through courts deciding the matter, labor experts tell KPFA that multiple federal judges have agreed that app companies fail the ABC test — and that drivers are employees. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, the author of AB 5, a bill that incorporated the Dynamex decision into state law, agrees. “There is no way for a delivery driver, an Uber driver, to fit into this idea of being a small business,” she says. “They don't set their own rates. They don't make their own decisions. they're told where to go, when to go. there there's just a lot of control in the entire aspect of it.” “What I realized after driving with them almost for four and a half years, was that it was never about the relationship with the driver. It was really about their relationship to making money.” – John Mejia, driver for Uber and Lyft Six weeks after Governor Newsom signed AB 5 in 2019, delivery and ride-hailing companies filed paperwork to put Proposition 22 on the ballot, and exempt themselves from the law. Proposition 22 has support from police unions, multiple chambers of commerce, and the California Republican Party. In fact, the Yes on 22 campaign this month transferred $2 million to the California Republican Party to support campaigning efforts for the measure. It's opposed by labor unions, including the Teamsters, SEIU, United Food and Commercial Workers and the California Labor Federation as well as high-profile Democrats, like presidential nominee Joe Biden and senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren. What's inside Prop 22? Prop 22 would would permanently classify drivers for the app companies as independent contractors, not employees. It also contains some things that look like worker protections: It bars companies from stealing tips from drivers, a practice which is already illegal for employers to do to employees. It mandates drivers rest after working for 12 hours — though drivers could easily flout the law by switching to a second app.  It makes app companies pay a healthcare subsidy for drivers to buy insurance through Covered California. But the subsidy is based on the price of a “bronze” plan, known for high deductibles and fees.  Plus, Prop 22 creates a minimum pay system, something drivers have long demanded, which the app companies say is a historic wage guarantee. The initiative promises 30 cents a mile and 120 percent of minimum wage for hours worked. But there's a catch: labor attorneys say the companies found a way to undercount work hours. “The ballot proposition would only pay drivers for about two-thirds of the time that they're actually working, because it only pays them for engaged time,” says Rey Fuentes, a legal fellow at the Partnership for Working Families.  “The companies funded research that clearly indicates drivers spend about a third of their time waiting, logged on, engaged to work — or essentially engaged to wait. And that time is compensable. Under California law, you should be paid for that time.” Another study by UC Santa Cruz researchers suggested the unpaid waiting time for San Francisco gig drivers could be closer to 20-24 percent of their working time. Whatever the proportion, under Prop 22, waiting time would remain uncompensated.  The Yes on 22 campaign told KPFA that they intentionally limited driver pay to this so-called “engaged time” to prevent drivers from double dipping, earning money to wait on two apps at the same time. But two drivers told KPFA they feel the apps keep them waiting without pay on purpose to “maximize profits” and increase the availability of instant rides and deliveries for customers. Another thing Proposition 22 does: restrain lawmakers. If the state legislature wants to give app drivers a legal right to unionize or collectively bargain, they have to amend Prop 22, and that requires a seven-eigths supermajority vote. The part of the measure that makes drivers independent contractors could never be amended, Rey Fuentes says. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez says she's “never” seen a ballot initiative with a seven-eighths threshold. “Sometimes it requires a three fourth vote of the legislature, but seven-eighths is almost laughable.” Geoff Vetter, the Yes on 22 spokesperson, says it's intentional. “We think it's important that the voice of drivers and voters be protected, so that if Proposition 22 passes in November, the legislature can't come back in January and completely undo it.” No sick leave, and a raging pandemic Another impact Prop 22 might have: keeping drivers on the job while they're sick. Independent contractors don't get the paid sick leave that state and local laws require for employees.  Labor rights lawyer Rey Fuentes says this means Proposition 22 would even override more generous local laws in places like San Francisco, where employees are currently guaranteed access to up to nine days of paid sick leave. “The ballot proposition would make that law inaccessible to workers for companies like Doordash and Uber and Lyft, and leave them with zero paid sick leave,” he says. KPFA spoke with a driver named Edan Alva, who had no legal protections or sick leave when he fell seriously ill with the flu in January. Driving has been Alva's primary source of income since 2018, and seeing a doctor would have cost him $120, which he could not afford.  “I had to work sick, putting myself and my passengers at risk,” he says. “And I hated myself for doing that. But the choice was between working sick and losing the roof over my head. I worked as much as I could just until I earned enough money to pay my rent. And then I just physically couldn't work or really move much anymore.”  Edan Alva now volunteers for a group called Gig Workers Rising, which is campaigning against Prop 22. He stopped driving when the pandemic started, and says he won't go back unless he feels safe. The CDC currently recommends companies pay for worker sick leave — so they don't go to work sick, and possibly spread a deadly disease. Thousands of drivers have also struggled to access pandemic unemployment insurance, because Uber and Lyft have declined to report driver earnings to the state. John Mejia filed for pandemic unemployment insurance, but the companies wouldn't confirm to the state that he worked for them, even though he had his earnings documented on a 1099. “They made it difficult for me,” Mejia says. “I actually got some unemployment insurance, but it took me just under six months before I saw any money from them.” The UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education conducted analysis that found Uber and Lyft would owe the state of California's unemployment insurance fund $413 million, if they had classified their drivers as employees. For now, California is continuing to pay out, despite the companies not paying in. Rebecca Smith of the National Employment Law Project says, “if you are an employee, you're entitled to all of those things. You're entitled to minimum wage, and overtime, and health and safety protections, and paid sick days. And in California, paid family leave and unemployment benefits when you lose your job and workers' compensation when you're injured, much of that is taken away by this initiative and it's taken away permanently.” A 2020 study from UC Santa Cruz of gig drivers in San Francisco said 45% of the workers couldn't handle a $400 financial emergency without having to borrow money. The study also estimates that up to 1 in 5 drivers might be earning nothing at all once expenses are accounted for.   The post What's inside Prop 22, Uber and Lyft's $182M ballot measure on the fate of gig drivers? appeared first on KPFA.

New York becomes the second state with a shelter in place order as coronavirus cases spike. Senate negotiators plan to work through the weekend on a trillion dollar coronavirus package. Covered California reopens enrollment and urges uninsured residents to join. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announces an emergency relief fund. San Francisco's DSA democratic socialists distribute tents to homeless people. Immigrants rights advocates call for release of detained immigrants, citing coronavirus dangers. The post The Pacifica Evening News, Weekdays – March 20, 2020 appeared first on KPFA.

She joins PRWeek's Steve Barrett and Frank Washkuch as they discuss the biggest PR news this week, including Xerox's storytelling team, DeVries Global's merger with Canvas Blue, Salesforce preparing for an agency review, Covered California's new PR AOR and a study scrutinizing PR's effectiveness in pitching journalists.

In an effort to better understand the clusterf*ck that is California's wildfire and energy crisis, Carter chats with Jacob Faturechi about PG&E's insurance status and the incentives that result. Jacob is a property, casualty, life, accident and health insurance broker-agent licensed in the state of California. He is a member of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, the National Association of Health Underwriters, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and the American Agents Alliance Insurance Association. He is a Certified Insurance Agent for Covered California and an independent broker authorized to offer policies from many different insurance companies. YouTube link to video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/gOhgNUddyIE