Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Residency Training Slots May Evaporate
Four funding sources for training new physicians — all designed to increase the number of family practice physicians in California — are due to expire soon.
State Insurance Commissioner Calls Out Blue Shield for ‘Second Tax Dodge’
On the heels of the Franchise Tax Board’s revocation of Blue Shield of California’s tax-exempt status, the state insurance commissioner said the insurer is avoiding premium taxes to the tune of $100 million each year.
Frustration Boils at Denti-Cal Hearing
Lack of required reporting and little progress in Denti-Cal’s low utilization rates made for a tense and testy legislative hearing on dental coverage for five million California children yesterday in Sacramento.
Hearing Today on Denti-Cal Report
A joint legislative hearing in Sacramento today will look at a state auditor’s report sounding an alarm about low utilization rates and a dearth of participating dentists in the Denti-Cal program.
Possible Explanation Offered for Delayed Medi-Cal Termination Data
The executive director of the County Welfare Directors Association of California said the lag in the state’s reporting of Medi-Cal coverage data is understandable following a year of growth and change.
Report Urges Statewide Standards for Indigent Care in California
A new report from Health Access urges state policymakers to adopt more statewide standards for indigent care to improve California’s safety-net system which varies widely from county to county.
Uninsured Rate for ‘Young Invincibles’ Dips Below 10% at State Universities
A sharp decline in the rate of uninsured Latino students contributed to overall low uninsured rates at seven California State University campuses, according to research released yesterday.
Prime Backs Out of Buying Hospitals
Citing “onerous and unprecedented” conditions placed on the sale of six California safety-net hospitals by the state attorney general, Prime Healthcare — approved buyer of the facilities — has withdrawn its bid.
California Group Leads National Effort Opposing Medicare Advantage Cuts
A national coalition of health care providers led by the California Association of Physician Groups is lobbying against proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage.
One Million Medi-Cal Renewals Up Every Month, Termination Data ‘Not Available’
Every year, Medi-Cal loses some enrollment by attrition — beneficiaries’ circumstances change, they move or they become nearly impossible to contact. Those Medi-Cal terminations could measure in the millions this year. The state has not yet released data on it.