Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS To Distribute up to $54M in Grants for ACA Exchange Navigators
CMS is accepting grant applications from individuals and organizations seeking to serve as navigators in the Affordable Care Act’s federally run and partnership health insurance exchanges. The agency said it expects to distribute up to $54 million total. Modern Healthcare et al.
Editorial Mulls Possible Effects of Medical Interpreters Bill
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that “nearly half” of a bill by Assembly Speaker John Pérez that would “improve and expand medical interpreter services for Medi-Cal patients” deals with setting up a process for interpreters to join a public employee union. According to the editorial, “Creating a new unionized work force within the health care field is certain to increase financial pressures” in California’s health care system. Sacramento Bee.
Boosting High-Risk Insurance Program To Be a GOP Priority
On Friday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor sent a memo to House Republicans saying that one of the GOP’s main health care priorities for the spring will include efforts to boost funding for the Affordable Care Act’s temporary high-risk insurance pool program. According to Cantor, the GOP will introduce a bill in the House that would redirect funds from other ACA provisions, including funding allocations for public and preventive health initiatives, to support the program. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Report: Nearly 3M Californians Eligible for ACA Tax Credits
A report from Families USA finds that nearly three million Californians will be eligible for federal tax credits to pay for health coverage purchased through the state health insurance exchange next year. Sacramento Business Journal, KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Kids With Autism Lose Access to Services Amid Healthy Families Shift
Some children with autism who have transitioned from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal have lost access to certain behavioral health services, according to a children’s health advocate. A state law requiring insurers to cover such services exempts Medi-Cal. Sacramento Business Journal.
Obama Releases Budget Proposal That Includes $400B in Health Cuts
President Obama has unveiled a $3.77 trillion budget plan that would raise taxes on higher-income residents and reduce spending on health care-related programs by $400 billion. The plan does not include proposed cuts to Medicaid. Los Angeles Times‘ “Politics Now” et al.
Online Insurance Brokers Eye Potential ACA Windfall
Online insurance brokers want consumers to use their websites to purchase health plans under the Affordable Care Act. In March, HHS approved partnerships between states and online insurance brokers but set strict standards on the information that the private websites must display. However, consumer advocates warn that the brokers might undermine the ACA by heavily promoting plans that pay a larger commission. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
Calif. Programs Seek To Improve Diabetes Rates, Disease Management
Several initiatives across California seek to curb rising rates of diabetes and to help patients better manage the disease. For example, a program in Spanish-speaking communities teaches patients how to control their blood glucose and cholesterol, among other things. HealthyCal.
Senate Committee OKs Bill To Boost Regulation of Fracking
On Tuesday, a California Senate committee voted 6-2 to approve a bill that would tighten rules for the drilling process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Critics argue that fracking could cause public health risks by polluting public water supplies. The bill — by Sen. Fran Pavley — would require state authorities to monitor and report on the public health and environmental effects of the drilling process. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Some Calif. Women Denied Breast Pumps Despite ACA
Beginning on Jan. 1, the Affordable Care Act required health insurers to provide nursing mothers with breast pumps, but the law does not specify the type of pump health plans must provide or for how long women qualify after giving birth. Some California women have had their requests for breast pumps denied by their health plans. HealthyCal.