Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Calif. Hits Kaiser With $2.2 Million Fine For Failing To Provide Required Medicaid Data
It’s the second fine this year for California’s largest health plan, the only one to be penalized by Medi-Cal officials since at least 2000. The HMO says it will hand the information over by next month.
Counties Hit The Road To Treat Mental Health
A growing number of California counties are deploying RVs to address the mental health needs of residents in isolated regions.
Medi-Cal Sued For Pushing Patients Into Managed Care Despite Judges’ Orders
Advocates say California’s Medicaid program is violating its own rules by overturning decisions that would allow seriously ill patients to stay out of managed care and keep their doctors.
California Funds Nonprofits To Serve Food As Medicine
The state is investing $6 million in a three-year effort to deliver healthy meals and groceries to chronically ill Medi-Cal patients at doctors’ offices, clinics and hospitals.
State-Led Effort Helps Improve Blood Pressure Control Among Low-Income Patients
Nine Medi-Cal health plans joined the state in a program that helped them stabilize blood pressure among their members — but most still fell short of a federal goal intended to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes.
Medical Transportation Provider Accused Of Disserving L.A.’s Frail Patients
LogistiCare often shows up late, if at all, and compromises patient safety, according to a public interest firm’s lawsuit. The company says the allegations are inaccurate.
California Sued For Allegedly Substandard Medi-Cal Care
The lawsuit is a civil rights case on behalf of Latinos, who comprise nearly half of the program’s enrollees. But the advocates who filed it also hope to get class action certification for all Medi-Cal enrollees.
California Lawsuit Aims To Protect Spouses Of Disabled From Financial Ruin
Suit filed by advocates says California officials aren’t complying with federal Medicaid laws protecting spouses’ finances.
Telemedicine Is Wide-Reaching But Doesn’t Always Replace Doctor’s Touch
Insurers increasingly cover tests and treatment overseen from afar. Still, regulators in California and elsewhere often won’t count remote providers when measuring the adequacy of physician networks.
Obamacare Inspires Unlikely Political Action In California’s Red Region
In a county where cows outnumber people and most voters supported Donald Trump, a coalition of health clinics is driven to defend the Obamacare.