Latest California Healthline Stories
Court Orders Medi-Cal To Move To Cover HIV-Positive Californians
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has given the state Department of Health Care Services 120 days to report on steps it has taken to implement a 2002 state law that aimed to expand Medi-Cal to people who are HIV-positive but have not developed AIDS. Modern Healthcare, Bloomberg.
Health Care Personnel Update for December 2008
Christopher Ohman will be leaving his post as president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans on Jan. 16. Rick Martin has been named deputy director for plan and health care provider relations at the California Department of Managed Health Care.
More States Weigh Medicaid Cuts as Economy Worsens
California is one of several states considering changes to its Medicaid program. So far, 19 states have cut payments to hospitals and nursing homes, eliminated coverage for some treatments and excluded some beneficiaries from the program completely. Washington Post.
San Joaquin County Plan Tops Survey for Healthy Families Managed Care
Twenty-four health plans in California administer Healthy Families benefits, and a state survey found that consumer satisfaction was highest for Health Plan of San Joaquin County. Six other health plans surpassed the average consumer satisfaction rating. Stockton Record.
Daschle Joins in Grass Roots Efforts Targeted at Health Care Reform
HHS Secretary-designate Tom Daschle attended community meetings aimed at gathering public input on the health care system. The meetings are part of a larger effort intended to build public support for health care reform as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office. New York Times et al.
Community Health Clinic Funding Doubled Under Bush
During his two terms in office, President Bush doubled federal financing for community health centers, allowing the creation or expansion of 1,297 clinics in medically underserved areas. A New York Times editorial commends the president for his support of community health centers, as well as significantly increasing U.S. support to curb HIV/AIDS. New York Times.
State Alerts Doctors, Others to Potential Use Tax Liability
California has sent letters to physicians and other service providers over the past six months informing them that they may owe the state use tax for products purchased out of state. The use tax is the same as the sales tax, and ranges from 7.25% to 9.25% depending on where in California the buyer lives. Los Angeles Times.
Study Points to Cost Savings for Early Buy-In to Medicare
A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that a plan to permit Americans ages 62 to 64 to buy into Medicare would reduce costs and expand coverage more effectively than private health insurance. In most cases, people become eligible for Medicare at age 65. Sacramento Business Journal.
San Francisco Targets State Laws on ‘Gender Rating’ Health Premiums
Two California laws permit insurers to take into account a member’s gender when determining premiums for individual health insurance policies. San Francisco’s city attorney has pledged to sue the state if the laws are not repealed. San Francisco Chronicle.
Foundations in California Seen Taking More Active Role in Health Policy
Not-for-profit foundations in California are opening offices in Sacramento in hopes of taking a more direct role in health care policy discussions. The foundations will have to follow federal regulations that bar them from lobbying or engaging in partisan politics. Los Angeles Times.