State Releases Financing Detail on Medicaid Section 1115
Waiver
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) provided an
overview of their financing proposal for the renewal of
California’s “Bridge to Reform” Medicaid Section 1115 waiver on
January 30. The current waiver has provided approximately $10
billion in federal funds over the five-year life of the waiver.
The Brown Administration unveiled a $17 billion federal waiver
renewal proposal last week.
Jennifer Kent Appointed as Director of the Department of Health
Care Services
This week Governor Brown appointed Jennifer Kent as Director of
the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), succeeding
Director Toby Douglas. Kent formerly served DHCS as Associate
Director in 2011 and Deputy Director of Legislative and
Governmental Affairs from 2004 to 2007. She has also served as
Deputy Legislative Secretary in the Office of the Governor during
the Schwarzenegger Administration and as Associate Secretary of
Legislative Affairs at the California Health and Human Services
Agency.
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is in the midst of
the process to renew California’s “Bridge to Reform” Medicaid
Section 1115 Waiver. DHCS has outlined their process as follows:
Commissioner Dave Jones issues emergency regulation
On Monday, January 5, California’s Insurance Commissioner Dave
Jones was sworn-in for a second term. Immediately after being
sworn-in, Commissioner Jones issued an emergency regulation to
establish stronger requirements for health insurers to create and
maintain sufficient medical provider networks to provide timely
access to medical care.
Senate pro Tempore Kevin de Lèon announced committee chairs this
week. The following is a summary of the key health and human
services posts.
Senate Health Committee: Senate pro Tempore reappointed
Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D., to chair the Senate Health Committee.
Senator Hernandez – a former health care provider in
predominantly low-income communities – chaired the Senate Health
Committee the last several years.
California State Auditor Expresses Concerns About Access to
Denti-Cal Services
This week, the California State Auditor released a report
evaluating California’s Medi-Cal Dental Program and the
Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) effectiveness in
fulfilling their mandate to serve child beneficiaries. In their
findings, the California State Auditor described inefficiencies
by DHCS in establishing utilization criteria, properly assessing
provider participation and complying with state and federal
reporting requirements.
On December 1, the California Senate and Assembly convened their
organizing sessions for the 2015 Legislative year. The desks
remain open for both houses, allowing new bills to be introduced,
but the full Senate and Assembly will not reconvene until January
5.
Health and Human Services at the CSAC Annual Meeting
CSAC’s 120th Annual Meeting is next week, November 17 – 20.
The following events will be of particular interest to the health
and human services sector:
The Health and Human Services Policy Committee will meet on
Tuesday, November 18 at 2:30 p.m. and will discuss Orange
County’s “Eat. Play. Breathe.” campaign, the Section 1115 Waiver,
Medi-Cal Eligibility, IHSS, Relative Caregivers, and CSAC’s HHS
platforms.
The Department of Health Care Services – in partnership with the
California Endowment, the California Health Care Foundation and
the Blue Shield of California Foundation – is convening a
stakeholder workgroup process to further develop concepts for the
1115 Medicaid Waiver Renewal. Workgroups include:
LAO Report: Integrating Health and Human Services Eligibility and
Enrollment Processes
On Thursday, October 30, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO)
released a report focused on the integration of three key Health
and Human Services (HHS) Programs: Medi-Cal, Cal Fresh and
CalWORKs. In this report, the LAO assesses the steps California
has taken to promote HHS integration, the challenges to
integration stemming from the Affordable Care Act, and
legislative next steps.
On Tuesday, October 21, the Legislature held a Joint Hearing of
the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and the Senate
Health Committee to discuss the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery
System (DMC-ODS). Please recall that the Department of Health
Care Services (DHCS) is proposing to better organize and
coordinate the Drug Medi-Cal program. The committees heard
testimony from state officials, county officials, treatment
providers and health plans.
The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review and Senate Health Committees
will hold a joint oversight hearing on Tuesday October 21, 2014,
at 1:00 p.m. focused on the Administration’s Drug Medi-Cal
Organized Delivery System Waiver Proposal. The purpose of the
joint hearing, which is being held in Sacramento, is to:
SB 1054 (Steinberg) – Support
Chapter 436, Statutes of 2014
SB 1054, by Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg,
extends a working group deadline for improving the collection of
juvenile justice data and makes several adjustments to the
structure the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction Grants
program – such as shortening the grant terms from four to three
years — which was renewed in the 2014-15 budget.
CSAC supports SB 1054, which Governor Brown signed into law on
September 18.
DHCS Director Toby Douglas Stepping Down from Office
Today Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley announced
that Toby Douglas will step down as Director of the Department of
Health Care Services by the end of the year. Mr. Douglas was
appointed in early 2011 and has served in various leadership
positions with DHCS since 2005.
AB 2547 (Gaines) – Support
Chapter 272, Statutes of 2014
The Governor signed AB 2547, by Assembly Member Beth Gaines, into
law on August 22, 2014. AB 2547 allows Placer County to continue
to operate their successful integrated, coordinated, and seamless
approach to health and human services delivery in the
County.
SB 878 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) – No position
As Amended on August 27, 2014
SB 878 is a budget trailer bill that makes a number of changes to
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider enrollment and
orientation. Specific provisions include:
AB 1733 (Quirk-Silva, Maienschein, Atkins) – Support Enrolled on
August 27, 2014
AB 1733, by Assembly Members Sharon Quirk-Silva, Brian
Maienschein and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, allows a fee waiver
for a homeless person to obtain a certified certificate of live
birth from the county registrar or recorder or an identification
card from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
AB 2546 (Salas) – Support Enrolled on August 21, 2014
AB 2546, by Assembly Member Rudy Salas, authorizes and provides a
statutory framework for Kern County to form the Kern County
Hospital Authority. The Hospital Authority positions Kern to
evolve with the changing health care landscape and innovate to
better serve its low-income residents. CSAC supports AB 2546,
which is enrolled and awaits the Governor’s action.
AB 39 (Skinner) – Concerns
As Amended on August 20, 2014
