Year after year Californians watch their health bills increase faster than their wages \u2014 for some, to the point where care becomes unaffordable. Four years ago, the state created an office to curb that trend. Now, the California Office of Health Care Affordability is gaining new power to control costs.<\/p>\n
Its board last week adopted penalties for hospitals, physician groups and insurers that exceed state spending caps \u2014 among the strictest in the country.<\/p>\n
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