Bill To End Intoxicated Patient Diversion
The Assembly Committee on Health approved legislation to stop hospitals from asking police to take their severely intoxicated patients.
Emergency Transport Firms Want a Seat at Medi-Cal Rate Talks Table
A coalition of six emergency transport companies, saying Medi-Cal reimbursement covers one-sixth of the actual cost of emergency ambulance services, seeks a rate increase from the state.
Governor Calls for Special Legislative Session To Address Health Spending
With health care spending high on his list of fiscal concerns, Gov. Brown has called for a special legislative session dealing with Medi-Cal, loss of the managed care organization tax and other health spending issues.
Survey Bolsters Nurse Practitioner Bill
AARP, which has been campaigning for state legislation to expand scope of practice for nurse practitioners, is releasing a survey today that shows strong support for the proposal among older Californians.
Sacramento County Votes To Provide Health Care for Undocumented Adults
Six years after trying to eliminate the county’s indigent care program, Sacramento reversed direction and now will provide the services.
Scathing Auditor’s Report on Medi-Cal
California lawmakers need to ramp up their monitoring of the Department of Health Care Services to make sure Medi-Cal managed care patients can access care, according to a state audit released yesterday.
Budget Passage Not the Final Word
The California Legislature’s balanced budget approved by yesterday’s deadline includes funding for a number of health care-related programs, but no one is predicting it’s a done deal. Lobbying and negotiating continue.
Medi-Cal Managed Care Audit Coming
The state auditor is about to release a critique of Medi-Cal’s managed care program, including the adequacy and accuracy of its provider directories.
Health Changes Likely in State Budget
Some health care services may be restored in the new state budget being hammered out today in the California Legislature, but some may still face a gubernatorial veto.
Medi-Cal Autism Care May Be Lacking
Nearly a year after autism therapy officially became a Medi-Cal benefit, only 2% of Medi-Cal managed care children with autism are receiving one of the main treatments for the malady, according to state data.