Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. Care Health Plan’s Elaine Batchlor Talks About Efforts To Improve Safety-Net Care
Elaine Batchlor, chief medical officer at L.A. Care Health Plan, spoke with California Healthline about the challenges facing safety-net health programs and the opportunities to address such challenges through innovation.
Date Set, Plaintiffs Get Support in High Court Medi-Cal Case
First up on the Supreme Court’s docket this fall is a California case determining whether Medi-Cal beneficiaries and providers have the right to sue the government. The ruling — no matter which side it favors — is expected to have far-reaching implications.
Will ‘Most Important Study in Decades’ Matter for Reform?
Although Medicaid is set to be the backbone of the Affordable Care Act’s health coverage expansion, the program is beset by criticism from conservatives. Health policy experts hope that a once-in-a-generation study will strengthen the case for preserving the program.
U.S. Facing Dramatic Decline in Number of Emergency Departments, According to Study
Renee Hsia of UC-San Francisco, Sandra Schneider of the American College of Emergency Physicians and Caroline Steinberg of the American Hospital Association spoke with California Healthline about a recent study on emergency department closures.
Next Political Battle Brewing on Medicaid Messaging
Democrats have seized on Republicans’ planned reforms to Medicare, using the issue to frame their deficit reduction talks and as a starting point for political campaigns. While the GOP’s Medicaid proposal has drawn less scrutiny, advocates are expected to focus on threats to the program’s funding in the coming weeks.
Round One Goes to Services for Developmental Disabilities
California facilities for residents with developmental disabilities have been squeezed by state budget cuts — including a Medi-Cal freeze on some reimbursement rates. But just because California is low on cash, that doesn’t give the state the right to freeze those rates, U.S. District Court judge Christina Snyder said. She issued a preliminary injunction on Friday that halted some budget-cutting measures that don’t follow the law.
“Judge Snyder’s ruling is that the rate freeze was applied unlawfully,” Mark Reagan, attorney for the California Association of Health Facilities, said.
“This is just one round,” Reagan said, adding, “There will certainly be more rounds to come. But at least this piece has been achieved.”
Intermediate Care Facilities Catch a Break
A U.S. District Court judge this week issued a ruling that temporarily prohibits California from freezing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for intermediate care facilities that care for residents with developmental disabilities. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program.
A permanent ruling is expected soon, possibly by the end of the week. However, even the temporary stay is a big victory for developmental services providers and their patients, according to Deborah Pacyna of the California Association of Health Facilities.
“These providers are required to provide quality care 24 hours a day, and yet they’re having to pay out of their own pockets to do that, to the point of possibly closing,” Pacyna said, adding, “They’re paying for patient assessments, staffing, fuel, food, in spite of being faced with this rate freeze, so we hope the judge recognizes this financial hardship.”
Aged, Blind, Disabled Moving Into Managed Medi-Cal
Blind, disabled and aged Californians receiving subsidized health coverage begin shifting soon into mandatory managed Medi-Cal programs as part of the Medicaid waiver negotiated last year between California and CMS.
How Should California Handle Eligibility for Long-Term Medi-Cal?
We asked stakeholders and experts what steps state policymakers could take to address questions surrounding eligibility for Medi-Cal long-term care coverage.
President’s First Major Reform to Reform Law May Be DOA
President Obama now backs an effort to let states opt out of significant elements of the health reform law sooner than currently allowed. However, the president’s decision to concede an aspect of his overhaul may not be much of a concession, as the legislation is unlikely to pass.