LA Times: UnitedHealth, Aetna and Cigna opt out of California insurance exchange
Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California are all expected to participate in the state-run market for individual health coverage. By Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times May 22, 2013, 5:59 p.m. Some prominent health insurers, including industry giant UnitedHealth Group Inc., are not participating in California’s new state-run health insurance market, possibly … Read more
Sac Bee: Loophole in health care law could stick doctors with tab
By Jim Sanders jsanders@sacbee.com Published: Wednesday, May. 22, 2013 – 12:00 am Last Modified: Wednesday, May. 22, 2013 – 7:59 am A loophole in California’s upcoming health care overhaul could be exploited by families gaming the system or responding to hardship in a way that doctors say could leave a pile of unpaid bills. A chain … Read more
Capital Public Radio: Legislative Dems Want to Restore Budget Cuts, but Priorities Differ
By Ben Adler CPR photo/Ben Adler As budget talks head into their final weeks, supporters of programs suffering from years of cuts are asking for help. Gov. Jerry Brown opposes any new spending. But Assembly and Senate Democrats have different programs in which they’d like to invest. (Sacramento, CA) Tuesday, May 21, 2013 The steps … Read more
National Skills Coalition: Appropriations Dems release sequester report
May 20, 2013 Democratic Members of the House Appropriations Committee, led by Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) recently released a report detailing the impact sequestration is having on public safety, health, education, national security, judiciary and legal representation, housing, commerce, seniors, and foreign assistance. While the committee Democrats did not specify what sequestration will mean for workforce development … Read more
CDCAN: ASSEMBLY PASSES IHSS COURT SETTLEMENT BILL SB 67 THAT AUTHORIZES TEMPORARY ACROSS-THE-BOARD SERVICE HOUR CUTS TO ALL IHSS RECIPIENTS
Bill Heads Next for All But Certain Approval by Governor Brown – Legislation Would Go Into Effect Immediately · 8% Across-The-Board Cut in Service Hours Would Begin July 1, 2013 and End June 30, 2014 Followed by 7% Across-the-Board Reduction BeginningJuly 1, 2014 Through June 30, 2015 – Temporary Cut Could Continue Indefinitely If New Federal Medicaid Money Fails To Come … Read more
California Healthline: OIG Rule: States Can Use Federal Funds for Medicaid Data Mining
On Friday, HHS’ Office of the Inspector General published a final rule that allows state Medicaid fraud control units to use federal funding to pay for data mining tools that can help find fraudulent billing patterns, Modern Healthcare reports. The units traditionally have been prohibited from using federal funding for data mining initiatives. Final Rule Details The rule allows … Read more
California Healthline: Federal Ruling, State Law May Conflict
by David Gorn In 2011, the Legislature went along with the governor’s plan to cut Medi-Cal provider rates by 10%. Provider groups immediately went to the courts to stop it, saying that patient access to care would be threatened by such a severe reduction. Now the final decision rests with a federal judge. A ruling … Read more
LA Times: Analyst disputes Brown’s budget outlook as too glum
Legislature’s advisor sees $3 billion more in revenue, which could hamper the governor’s bid to curb spending. By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles TimesMay 17, 2013, 7:27 p.m. SACRAMENTO — California’s financial picture is much brighter than Gov. Jerry Brown suggested in his latest spending plan, according to the Legislature’s top budget advisor, who said the state will … Read more
The Hill: CBO: Repealing Obama healthcare law will increase budget deficit
By Elise Viebeck - 05/15/13 11:57 AM ET Congressional budget analysts said Wednesday that repealing ObamaCare would increase the deficit by scrapping the law’s taxes, fees and spending cuts. The notice from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) came ahead of Thursday’s House vote on full repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The CBO refused … Read more
Urge Your Senator to Co-Sponsor the Resolution Against the Chained CPI
From our colleagues at the Alliance for Retired Americans: When Alliance activists speak out, Congress listens! After hearing from Alliance activists like you about the impact of the chained CPI benefit cut, senators across the country quickly joined tocosponsor the Senate Resolution(S.Con.Res. 15) opposing the chained CPI Benefit cut. Most recently, Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC) … Read more
