Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Feds OK California’s $6.2 Billion Waiver
California will start two pilot programs — a global payment system and the Whole Person Care pilot — as well as launch a dental incentive program and a public-hospital funding proposal under a Medi-Cal waiver approved last week by federal officials.
Health Reform in 2015: A Year in Review
From the King v. Burwell decision to the ultimate “doc fix,” there were some major developments in health care reform this year.
Poll: Duals Satisfied With New Program
The Cal MediConnect demonstration program for dual eligibles in California got a boost from a poll that shows high levels of satisfaction with the program.
New Research Effort To Solve Opt-Out Problem in State’s Duals Demonstration
University of California researchers are trying to figure out where the dual-eligible demonstration project may be going wrong — and where it may be headed in the right direction.
Dual Opt-Out Numbers Are Slightly Better This Month
The percentage of dual eligibles who choose to opt out or unenroll from the Cal MediConnect program remain high, but the numbers eased a bit last month.
Progress Lauded for Former Foster Kids
Children’s advocates praised the state in a report this week for making sure former foster children receive their Medi-Cal coverage.
Researchers, Health Officials Trying to Solve Dual Eligibles’ Opt-Out Puzzle
UCLA researchers launched a project to understand the high opt-out rate in the state’s duals demonstration project, while health officials release a tool for seniors to better understand their choices.
Half of State’s Undocumented Likely To Qualify for Medi-Cal Coverage
Researchers say about half of the 2.7 million undocumented Californians have incomes low enough to qualify for Medi-Cal coverage if the state offered it.
Waiver Approval a Strong Start, Now Time for Long-Term Vision, Expert Says
State and federal health officials reached an agreement on $6.2 billion worth of waiver projects for California’s Medicaid program. One expert says it’s time to build on that with a stronger vision of Medi-Cal’s future.
$6 Billion Waiver Gets Federal Approval
California gets almost everything it wanted in a scaled-back $6.2 billion waiver request for Medicaid delivery and payment system reforms approved over the weekend by federal regulators.