Covered California Is Touted As Model Of Success, But There Are People It Has Failed
KQED looks at the struggles rural Californians have faced under the Affordable Care Act.
KQED:
Rural Californians Want Price Relief From GOP Health Bill – But Most Won’t Get It
While Obamacare is largely viewed as a success in California – the state marketplace, Covered California, is one of the most financially stable in the country – it hasn’t worked as well for folks in this rural northeast corner of the state. There are two insurers selling plans in each county here, but residents say that hasn’t created enough competition to bring down prices. (Dembosky, 7/12)
In other news on the health law and Republicans' efforts to repeal it —
KPCC:
Children's Hospitals Say GOP Health Bill Would Be A 'Catastrophe' For Kids
The original Senate bill's cuts to Medicaid would be "a catastrophe" for California children, says Anne Kuhns, president and CEO of the California Children’s Hospital Association. Some 5.7 million low-income children are on the program, called Medi-Cal in California. (Faust, 7/12)
Fresno Bee:
Clovis Parents Say GOP Health Care Bill Could Hurt Son
Medi-Cal, the California version of Medicaid, is jointly funded by the federal and state government and provides services to adults and children with low incomes, as well as for adults and children with disabilities. In the central San Joaquin Valley, it is the insurance plan for nearly 50 percent of the population. The proposed Senate bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would change the federal government’s financing formula for Medi-Cal. Under the Better Care Reconciliation Act, a cap would be put on the amount of money the federal government would contribute to Medi-Cal. Currently, the federal government pays a share of the costs incurred to the program with no per capita limit. (Anderson, 7/12)
Sacramento Bee:
California Wants To Save Your Family’s Clinic From A Republican Health Care Bill
On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the budget-related bill that included $20 million for 80 one-time emergency grants to help the clinics get by while they find long-term funding solutions so the more than 4 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries who get their care from community clinics still receive services. The grant program is an effort to preempt drastic changes to the nation’s longest-running health support system. (Svirnovskiy, 7/12)