Measures to Restore Medi-Cal Provider Rate Cuts Converge, Move
Through Legislature
A broad coalition of hospitals, doctors, and health advocates is
supporting two measures moving through the Assembly and Senate to
restore cuts to the rate that the state pays to Medi-Cal
providers in the 2011-12 state budget.
SB 346 (Beall) – Support
As Amended on April 2, 2013
SB 346, by Assembly Member Jim Beall, would allow county social
services and health departments within a county to share limited
eligibility information.
Rural Managed Care Expansion Postponed Until September 1
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) notified
stakeholders last week that the anticipated start date for the
rural managed care expansion has been moved from June 1 to
September 1, 2013. The later implementation date applies to all
28 counties in the proposed expansion.
SBX1 3 (Hernandez) – Support
As Amended on March 6, 2013
SBX1 3, by Senator Ed Hernandez, would create a health care
“Bridge Plan” to create a low-cost health plan through Covered
California that would help ensure provider continuity for
low-income individuals as they move between eligibility for
public and private health coverage. The CSAC Executive
Committee supported as similar measure by Senator Hernandez last
year (SB 703) that would have created a Basic Health Plan.
SBX1 3 (Hernandez) – Support
As Amended on March 6, 2013
SBX1 3, by Senator Ed Hernandez, would create a health care
“Bridge Plan” to create a low-cost health plan through Covered
California that would help ensure provider continuity for
low-income individuals as they move between eligibility for
public and private health coverage.
The CSAC Executive Committee supported as similar measure by
Senator Hernandez last year (SB 703) that would have created a
Basic Health Plan.
State Reaches Agreement to Settle Series of IHSS Lawsuits
The state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) reached an
agreement with In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) beneficiaries
and labor organizations on a series of lawsuits related to state
IHSS cuts over the last four years.
Senator Introduced Package of Bills to Alleviate Medical Provider
Shortage
Senator Ed Hernandez, chair of the Senate Health Committee,
introduced a three-bill package yesterday to allow existing
medical professionals to expand their scope of practice to
provide specified medical services.
The state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has announced
the selection of health plans to provide Medi-Cal Managed Care
services in 28 rural counties.
ABX1 1 (Pérez) – Support
As Introduced on January 28, 2013
ABX1 1, by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, would implement
provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to streamline
eligibility and enrollment in the state’s Medi-Cal
system.
The Assembly Health Committee passed ABX1 1 on February 19 in
special session and referred it to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee.
Santa Clara Supervisor to Testify at Senate Budget Hearing on
Medi-Cal Expansion
The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee will meet on
February 21 for an informational hearing titled “Evaluating State
and County Risks and Responsibilities for Medi–Cal Simplification
and Expansion under the Affordable Care Act.”
First Bills Introduced in Special Session on Health Care Reform
Both houses of the legislature have introduced measures in
Governor Brown’s week-old extraordinary legislative session on
health care reform, signaling lawmakers’ interest in moving
quickly to expand Medicaid and implement key provisions of the
Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Governor Opens Special Legislative Session on Health Care Reform
Governor Brown called an extraordinary legislative session on
health care reform yesterday, opening a legislative fast-track
for implementing policy related to the federal Affordable Care
Act (ACA) in California.
California Senate President Steinberg Proposes Federal Mental
Health Initiative in Wake of Gun Violence
California Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg
forwarded a mental health services framework to United States
Vice President Joseph Biden this week that seeks a $10 billion
federal investment in key mental health services.
Medicaid Expansion Achievable With Minimal Costs, Says Report
A new report indicates that a Medicaid expansion in California
under the Affordable Care Act is achievable with minimal state
costs.
The report, released this month by the University of California
Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education and the UC Los
Angeles Center for Health Policy Research, estimates that the
federal government will pay for at least 85 percent of new
Medi-Cal spending in 2014 through 2019 if the expansion takes
place.
Blue Shield Foundation Offers Grants for County Enrollment
Assistance in 2013
The Blue Shield Foundation of California has announced grant
opportunities for counties to assist in the transition of
enrollees from county Low Income Health Programs (LIHPs) to
Medi-Cal or the state’s health benefit exchange (Covered
California) under the Affordable Care Act. These grants are
available to county government agencies – including county health
systems – and county health, social services, and behavioral
health departments.
The state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released
a Request for Application (RFA) seeking health plans and
nonprofits interested in providing Medi-Cal Managed Care in 25
rural counties.
The California Health Benefit Exchange Board voted this week on a
brand name and logo for the Exchange: Covered California.
The brand name and logo will be used for marketing, outreach and
communication. At the next board meeting on November 14, the
final name, logo, tagline and web domain will be released.
State Announces Initial County Transition Plan for Healthy
Families Program
The state released the list of counties that will comprise the
first phase of the transition of about 800,000 Healthy Families
Program (HFP) children to Medi-Cal in 2013.
The exact date of the transition is pending federal approval, but
the 2012-13 Budget Act authorized the state to begin
transitioning children as soon as January 1, 2013. The
legislation outlined four phases, and the state has divided the
first phase into A and B components.
