Latest California Healthline Stories
Assembly Hearing Explores Restoration of Targeted Medi-Cal Benefits
A budget hearing in the state Assembly yesterday examined the topic of restoring specific Medi-Cal budget cuts in areas ranging from adult dental to acupuncture services.
Duals Demonstration Project Begins
The state’s Cal MediConnect project has officially started in five of the eight demonstration counties. Health officials hope to move as many as 456,000 dual eligibles to Medi-Cal managed care plans.
‘Enormous Surge’ in Exchange Enrollees
A huge number of Californians made last-minute efforts to enroll before the close of Covered California’s first open enrollment period. More than 500,000 began the coverage process in the last week, officials said.
Bill Aiming To Integrate Mental, Physical Health Care Wins Committee Approval
A Senate committee voted unanimously yesterday to change California’s regulations that prevent billing for mental and physical health care treatments on the same day in rural areas.
Assembly Hearing Examines Latinos’ Unpreparedness for Long-Term Care
More than half of California’s Latino families will need long-term care in the next five years, but more than 90% of them can’t afford it, according to testimony yesterday at an Assembly committee hearing.
Exchange Swamped, Bends the Rules
Faced with a deluge of Californians trying to sign up for health insurance on the last day before penalties begin, Covered California officials bent the deadline rules to help people slip in under the wire.
Dooley Lays Out State’s Approach for Developmental Centers
In a legislative hearing last week, California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana Dooley addressed the potential transition of developmental center patients to community-based programs.
Poll: Interest Running High in Exchange
Covered California is in for a wave of enrollees in the next few days, according to a poll from the Public Policy Institute of California that says three-quarters of the state’s uninsured plan to get insurance by March 31.
Exchange Expects a Big Final Week, Allows April Completion of Paperwork
Covered California won’t extend its application deadline of March 31, but it will let anyone who has started the enrollment process to finish applications by April 15.
San Francisco Adult Day Centers Get Reprieve From 10% Medi-Cal Rate Cut
Worried that cutbacks might force closures and create access problems, California officials have ruled that nine Community-Based Adult Services facilities in San Francisco won’t have their Medi-Cal reimbursements reduced by 10%.