Pauline Bartolone

Obamacare set national rules for appealing a denied health claim — a process that used to vary by employer and state. Consumers should appeal more often, advocates say. Half the time, they'll win.

An Alameda County ordinance puts the responsibility for drug disposal squarely on the companies that made the medicines. States and the federal government have considered similar measures, but none has passed.

Insurers are holding down prices by including fewer doctors and hospitals in their health plans. Consumers may save money, but at the cost of more restrictions on where they can get medical care that is covered.

A media investigation revealed this summer that scores of female inmates received prohibited sterilization procedures in California prisons between 1997 and 2010. State lawmakers are now demanding an audit into the legally questionable tubal ligations, to find out if coercion was involved.

Members of the Access to Healthcare Network in Reno, Nev., get discounts on health services. But first, they pay a monthly membership fee. They also agree to pay their medical bills to providers upfront.

Some 15 states are expected to consider giving advanced practice nurses more independence and authority this year. It's part of a push to meet increased demand for primary care as more people get insurance under the health law.

In the process of creating its health insurance exchange, California wants to rename the marketplace. But it's tough to find a name that appeals to all Californians and explains the marketplace at the same time.