Ana B. Ibarra
CALmatters
Sacramento, CA, United States
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Past articles by Ana:
Newsom’s begun cutting California’s ties with Walgreens over abortion pill — how far will he go?
Gov. Gavin Newsom surprised health care insurers with announcement that California would cut ties with Walgreens, a Medi-Cal provider. → Read More
Millions of Californians at risk of losing health coverage when federal COVID programs end
Expiration of two COVID emergency programs means people could lose their Medi-Cal insurance or find Covered California unaffordable. → Read More
As California expands Medi-Cal, hundreds of thousands of immigrants will still be left behind
Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants in California still won’t qualify for health insurance even though they don’t earn a living wage. → Read More
COVID vaccinations lag for people on Medi-Cal
In all California counties, Medi-Cal enrollees have received COVID-19 vaccinations at substantially lower rates than the overall population. → Read More
Virtual medical visits are the new normal during the coronavirus pandemic
California's efforts to slow the coronavirus have significantly accelerated the use of telehealth visits. Some health systems in California report up to 80% of their patient visits are handled by video chat or a phone call. → Read More
Congressional Candidates Go Head-To-Head On Health Care — Again
The California Democratic members of Congress who flipped seven Republican seats two years ago made health care a major campaign issue, criticizing their opponents for voting to repeal the Affordab… → Read More
Newsom Touts California’s ‘Public Option.’ Wait — What Public Option?
Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state already has a public option: Covered California, the state health insurance exchange. While there is no single definition of a public option, some health care experts say that’s a stretch. → Read More
For 2020, California Goes Big On Health Care
California lawmakers are proposing ambitious health care ideas, from creating a state generic drug label to banning the sale of flavored e-cigarette products. Even though Democrats control state government, they’re likely to face pushback from powerful health care industry groups like hospitals. → Read More
Some Rejoice Over New California Health Insurance Subsidies. Others Get Shut Out.
There’s something new in this year’s Covered California open-enrollment period: Consumers are learning whether they will qualify for new state-funded financial aid. The results are mixed, with some scoring hundreds of dollars per month and others nothing. → Read More
Medi-Cal To Expand Eligibility To Young Undocumented Adults. But Will They Enroll?
California will become the first state to allow unauthorized immigrant adults to receive full Medicaid coverage when it expands eligibility to people ages 19 to 25 in January. But health officials and immigrant rights advocates wonder whether fear of federal immigration policy combined with a youthful sense of not needing health insurance will keep those young adults from joining. → Read More
Flavor Bans Multiply, But Menthol Continues to Divide
As states and communities ban the sale of flavored tobacco products linked to vaping, anti-smoking activists are piggybacking on the momentum to target menthol cigarettes. But some African American… → Read More
States Target Vaping With Bans. In California, The Action Is Local.
Several states have adopted bans on vaping products, but California isn’t going that far. Instead, cities and counties in the Golden State are stepping in to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco p… → Read More
Vapers seek relief from nicotine addiction by turning to cigarettes
Some are turning away from vaping and back to cigarettes — or taking them up for the first time — in a dangerous bid to lower their nicotine intake. → Read More
Vapers seek relief from nicotine addiction in — wait for it — cigarettes
Some e-cigarette users are turning to regular cigarettes in attempts to quit the habit. E-cigarettes like Juul can contain very high concentrations of nicotine. → Read More
Despite Failed Promises, Stem Cell Advocates Again Want Taxpayers To Pony Up Billions
California’s stem cell agency, created by a $3 billion bond measure 15 years ago, is almost out of money. Its supporters plan to ask voters for even more funding next year, even though no agency-fu… → Read More
Hospitals Block ‘Surprise Billing’ Measure
California lawmakers on Wednesday pulled legislation that would have protected some patients from surprise medical bills for emergency care, citing opposition from hospitals. They vowed to resurrect the bill next year. → Read More
With Obamacare in peril, California reins in rising health insurance premiums
Premiums will grow by an average of 0.8% next year on the state health insurance exchange. → Read More
With ACA’s Future In Peril, California Reins In Rising Health Insurance Premiums
Premiums will grow by an average of 0.8% next year on the state health insurance exchange. Officials cite two new policies for the relatively low rate hike: a new state tax penalty on Californians who don’t have health insurance coupled with state-based tax credits to help enrollees afford their premiums, including middle-income people who make too much money to qualify for federal financial aid. → Read More
Medi-Cal Enrollment Among Immigrant Kids Stalls, Then Falls. Is Fear To Blame?
Enrollment among undocumented immigrant children in California’s Medicaid program started strong before stagnating and then falling. Although this decline is similar to an enrollment decline among … → Read More
Medi-Cal enrollment among immigrant children stalls, then falls. Is fear to blame?
As California prepares to expand Medicaid coverage to young adults here illegally, the number of undocumented immigrant children in the program is slowly declining, new state data show. → Read More