Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Will This State Be the First To Expand Obamacare — and Then Take It Away?

About 100,000 residents of Arkansas have gotten coverage through the “private option,” a unique application of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. But the program only runs through June, and Republicans — concerned by costs and emboldened by state legislative victories — are threatening to kill it after just six months.

Dual Eligibles Transition Sparks Worries

California health officials want to move one million Californians who qualify for Medi-Cal and Medicare into managed care. Advocates worry the state will not properly prepare seniors for the transition.

CMS, State Officials Halt Participation of CalOptima in Dual-Eligible Plan

Federal officials found “widespread and systemic” violations in an audit of Southern California insurer CalOptima, causing state officials to exclude Orange County residents — at least temporarily — from the Cal MediConnect conversion of dual-eligibles to Medi-Cal managed care.

This Program Was Bigger Than Covered California. Why Did We Ignore It?

By December 2013, nearly 700,000 people had obtained health coverage through California’s Low-Income Health Program, the state’s early expansion of Obamacare coverage — and the “most overlooked” part of health reform, one expert tells California Healthline. Here’s a look at lessons to be learned from the LIHP.

Study: Dual Eligibles Worried About April Transition to Managed Care

A new study from UCLA says seniors are worried about the state’s duals demonstration project. Beginning in April, the state will move about 450,000 Californians eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal into Medi-Cal managed care plans.