The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released its third
iteration of their
Health Homes for Patients with Complex Needs Concept Paper –
Version 3.0 for comment on December 14. Recall, the Medicaid
Health Home State Plan option is afforded to states under Section
2703 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted in
March 2010.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the
Secretary’s First
Annual Report on Transparency in the Review and Approval of
Section 1115 Demonstration (Amendments to the SSA and Title II of
this Act).
The California Budget and Policy Center published a California
Budget Bite related to the Health Care Special Session which
remains open. The California Budget and Policy Center’s Q&A
addresses seven key questions about the special session as
Californians anticipate the release of the Governor’s proposed
2016-17 state budget in January 2016. The full blog can be read
here.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) will be hosting a
webinar for the Stepping Up series focusing on key strategies for
connecting people with mental illnesses to community service
after released from jail. In May, CSAC hosted a news conference
at the State Capitol to help draw attention to the number of
mentally ill inmates in county jails. It was one of several
similar events held to kick off the Stepping Up for Mental
Illness initiative sponsored by NACo, the Council of State
Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric
Association.
The Health Care Special Session remains open after efforts to
pass a MCO tax during the last few days of the regular session
fell short. The Administration was disappointed that they could
not reach agreement with the health plans and legislature and
released a
formal statement.
Senate Special Session Bills with Active CSAC Positions
SBX2 2 (Hernandez) – Pending
As Amended on September 4, 2015
SBX2 2, by Senator Ed Hernandez, was voted on the Senate Floor
last night. It received a single yes vote, which allows it to be
referred to the newly formed Health Special Session Conference
Committee.
SBX2 14 (Hernandez) – Pending
As Introduced on September 9, 2015
While it was a generally quiet week for the Health Care Special
Session, the Assembly Public Health and Developmental Services
Committee did convene a hearing on ABX2 15 – the End of Life bill
by Assembly Member Susan Eggman. Additionally, Assembly Member
Susan Bonilla introduced another tax measure into the special
session called “The Cocktails for Healthy Outcomes Act.”
Additional details are provided below.
End of Life Bill
ABX2 15 (Eggman) – Watch
As Introduced on August 17, 2015
Senator Richard Pan and Assembly Member Rob Bonta released
identical tobacco tax legislation in the Second Extraordinary
Special Session on Health – SBX2 13 and ABX2 16 respectively. The
bills would expand the definition of tobacco products to include
electronic cigarettes and would impose the same licensing
requirements on electronic cigarette manufactures, importers,
distributers, wholesalers and retailers.
This week, the Legislature returned to Sacramento and kicked off
a series of hearings related to the Health Special Session. The
Senate convened two hearings, one to explore the managed care
organization (MCO) tax and the other to hear a series of tobacco
legislation introduced during the special session. The Assembly
also convened two hearings, one to discuss community
developmental services funding and the other focused on the
Medi-Cal program.
As the legislative session enters the final month, there are
several bills still in play in the health and human services area
– all of which will be heard on August 17 in the Senate
Appropriations Committee:
CSAC continues to advocate for local government funding in any
new transportation funding package, and hopes to work with
counties to engage legislators on local transportation needs
while they are in their districts during the summer recess, which
lasts until August 17. CSAC has the following suggestions for
actions counties can take:
This week, the 2nd Extraordinary Session Assembly Public Health
and Developmental Services Committee followed the Senate’s lead
by convening their informational hearing on the Managed Care
Organization (MCO) tax and Developmental Disabilities.
Chairing this Committee is Assembly Member Rob Bonta, alongside
Assembly Member Brian Maienschein, Vice Chair. Other Committee
members include Assembly Members: Catharine Baker, Susan Bonilla,
Nora Campos, Eduardo Garcia, Marc Levine, Chad Mayes, Miguel
Santiago, Marc Steinorth, Mark Stone, Tony Thurmond and Jim
Wood.
This week, the 2nd Extraordinary Session Assembly Public Health
and Developmental Services Committee followed the Senate’s lead
by convening their informational hearing on the Managed Care
Organization (MCO) tax and Developmental Disabilities.
Today, the 2nd Extraordinary Session Senate Public Health and
Developmental Services Committee convened an informational
hearing. Members of the Committee include Senators Ed Hernandez
(Chair), Mike Morell (Vice Chair), Joel Anderson, Jim Beall,
Isadore Hall, Mark Leno, Mike McGuire, Holly Mitchell, Bill
Monning, John Moorlach, Jim Nielson, Richard Pan and Lois
Wolk.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to uphold the Affordable Care Act
(ACA) in the King vs. Burwell Case, which challenged the
subsidies provided through the Internal Revenue Service in 36
exchanges run by the federal government under the law.
Challengers argued that the law prohibited subsidies in federal
exchanges and that the law only applied to subsidies established
by a State.
