California Healthline: Standards Release a ‘Milestone’ for Exchange
by David Gorn Covered California, the state’s health benefit exchange, yesterday released its benefit standards outlining the basis for choosing qualified health plans that will participate in the exchange. “This is another milestone for the exchange,” said Diana Dooley, secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency. “We have a lot of hurdles to … Read more
The Hill: Bipartisan ‘doc fix’ bill introduced
By Sam Baker - 02/06/13 11:44 AM ET Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) and Joe Heck (R-Nev.) will take another stab at permanently repealing the Medicare payment rate that constantly threatens doctors with substantial payment cuts. The bipartisan duo introduced a bill Wednesday to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. The bill aims to replace the … Read more
California Healthline: KFF: Federal Subsidies To Help Offset Premium Hikes Caused by ACA
Though the Affordable Care Act likely will contribute to higher premiums for people who purchase coverage in the individual market, federal subsidies issued through the ACA to low- and middle-income families will offset the additional costs, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report, Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” reports. The report predicted that premiums for coverage purchased on … Read more
Washington Post: For insurance exchanges, states need ‘navigators’ — and hiring them is a huge task
By N.C. Aizenman, Published: February 4 Signing up an estimated 30 million uninsured Americans for coverage under the health-care law is shaping up to be, if not a bureaucratic nightmare, at the very least a daunting task.While some people will find registering for health insurance as easy as booking a flight online, vast numbers who are confused by the … Read more
California Healthline: Insuring a Better Future for the State?
![[Chamberlin, Bob -- B582009456Z.1 BURBANK, CA - APRIL 05, 2012: Photographer Dale Berman at his home in Burbank on APRIL 05, 2012. He has a preexisting medical condition and fears he won't be able to afford insurance if the healthcare reform law falls apart. ( Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times )] *** []](http://laaac.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/april-13-healthcare-reform.jpg?w=440&h=240&crop=1)
by David Gorn State officials and health care experts yesterday said the governor’s decision to sign on to optional expansion of Medi-Cal could be a huge step forward for California’s health system — and a huge challenge, as well, they said. More than 700 stakeholders gathered in downtown Sacramento for the annual conference of the … Read more
California Healthline: Most States Updating, Digitizing Medicaid Enrollment Systems
Most states are modernizing their Medicaid enrollment systems as required by the Affordable Care Act, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” reports (Viebeck, “Healthwatch,” The Hill, 1/23). Background The ACA requires all state Medicaid programs to shift to Web-based enrollment systems by January 2014 (Galewitz, “Capsules,” Kaiser Health News, 1/23). The requirement … Read more
California Healthline: Brown’s FY 2013-2014 Budget Plan Includes Several Wild Cards
Several items included in Gov. Jerry Brown’s (D) fiscal year 2013-2014 budget proposal could be disrupted by state operations, lawsuits or actions by the Legislature, U-T San Diego reports (Gardner, U-T San Diego, 1/15). Details of Brown’s Budget Proposal Upon releasing his budget plan, Brown said that — if implemented — it would leave the state with a budget surplus … Read more
LA Times: State sued over Medi-Cal patients’ switch to managed care
The lawsuit says the recipients’ rights were violated and they lost access to their doctors in the transition. December 23, 2012|By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times Legal aid organizations filed a lawsuit Friday against the California Department of Health Care Services, alleging that the state violated patients’ rights by forcing them into managed care. The … Read more
California Healthline: Time Running Out To Opt Back In to Adult Day Program
by David Gorn About 4,400 frail and elderly Californians who qualified for Community Based Adult Services opted out of the managed care program to remain in traditional fee-for-service care. Less than three weeks remain for them to change their minds. On Dec. 31, the state Easy-Way-Back program will close, and those “opt-outs” who declined Medi-Cal … Read more
LA Times: Healthcare law will have new California Legislature scrambling
Lawmakers will need to move quickly to clear the way for Californians’ enrollment in a new state-run insurance market next fall in the run-up to the Affordable Care Act. By Michael J. Mishak, Los Angeles TimesDecember 2, 2012, 10:40 p.m. SACRAMENTO — When state lawmakers are sworn in Monday for the new legislative session, they will … Read more
