Phil Galewitz

California’s Uninsured Rate Declined Last Year Despite Federal Efforts To Roll Back ACA

The percentage of people without insurance in California continued its decline in 2017, despite Republican efforts in Washington, D.C. to roll back the Affordable Care Act. The uninsured rate now stands 10 percentage points below its level in 2013 — the year before the coverage expanding provisions of the federal health law took effect, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Medicaid Covers Foster Kids, But Daunting Health Needs Still Slip Through The Cracks

Nearly all children in the foster care system are covered by Medicaid. Yet, foster parents still struggle to meet the extraordinary health needs of their children. In California, over 67,000 foster kids are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid. And nearly 23,000 former foster youth are enrolled in the program as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

As Medicaid Costs Soar, States Try A New Approach

New programs, known as ACOs, reward hospitals and physician groups that hold down costs by keeping enrollees healthy. The health care providers are asked to address social issues — such as homelessness, lack of transportation and poor nutrition — that can cause and exacerbate health problems.