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As the San Joaquin Valley struggles with a shortage of primary care physicians, doctors born or trained in foreign countries play a major role, but the region has a complicated relationship with international doctors.

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Health Care

Pharmacists Poised To Ease Physician Shortage, If Only They Could Get Paid For It

November 28, 2017

A new law upgrades pharmacists from medical professionals to providers—great news for areas such as the San Joaquin Valley struggling with a shortage of doctors. But it remains to be seen how, or if, pharmacists will get paid for this new work.

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Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

News Network: Contested Health Insurance Denials On The Rise

November 28, 2017 | Cody Drabble

Capital Public Radio's health reporter Sammy Caiola looked into why insurance companies are denying coverage at higher rates and how to contest a denial.

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Health Care

Number Of California Patients Fighting Insurance Denials Is Up, Cases Nearly Triple. Why?

November 27, 2017 | Sammy Caiola

The number of contested denials handled by the California Department of Managed Health Care has nearly tripled over the past five years — from roughly 1,500 in 2012 to more than 4,200 in 2016.

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Health Care

Federal Health Care Official Visits Central Valley To Discuss Medicaid Access

November 21, 2017 | Sammy Caiola

Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said she would like to empower states to restructure their existing Medicare and Medicaid systems at an event in Modesto Monday.

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