Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Bill Would Exempt Some Skilled Nursing Facilities From Cut
The effort to reverse a Medi-Cal reimbursement rate cut still is moving forward as an urgency measure, even though the Legislature already passed a budget.
Spring Studies Carry Implications for Affordable Care Act
This spring found a slew of studies with important takeaways for the Affordable Care Act. Catch up with “Road to Reform” on five of the most important research offerings of the last few months.
Floor Vote Coming for ‘De-linking’ Plan
A legislative committee yesterday questioned a proposal to “de-link” some provisions of the Coordinated Care Initiative and to expand the role of the Department of Finance in the state’s plans for covering Californians eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal.
Medi-Cal Dental Coverage Partially Restored
Northern California leaders of the campaign to restore dental coverage for adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries consider this week’s budget agreement between the governor and legislative leaders a partial victory.
Committee Finally Moves Health Reform Bills
The Assembly Committee on Health yesterday approved passage of two bills that made up the bulk of policy decisions in the legislative special session on health care.
Yesterday’s committee approval came the day after the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown hammered out a budget agreement. Some details of that pact have not been officially announced, including a provision for coverage of autism services. Autism coverage is implicitly contained — but could still be dropped — from one of the bills passed by the committee yesterday.
SBX1-1 by Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) would implement optional Medi-Cal expansion, paving the way for 1.4 million Californians earning up to 138% of federal poverty level to become eligible for the state’s Medicaid program.
State ‘De-links’ Mandatory Enrollment from Duals Project
The Department of Health Care Services last week announced a new provision of Cal MediConnect that would establish a means of abandoning the state’s duals demonstration project if it doesn’t meet a financial benchmark.
The department also wants to “de-link” mandatory enrollment from the demonstration project, according to Jane Ogle, deputy director at DHCS.
“On the program side, we de-linked mandatory enrollment of duals. That way, we’ll have long-term services and supports as Medi-Cal benefits,” she said.
DHCS Transparency Bill Moves Forward
The Senate Committee on Health this week approved a bill that would set new standards of accountability and transparency at the Department of Health Care Services.
AB 209 by Assembly member Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) received unanimous committee approval Wednesday and now heads for a Senate floor vote, the step before it can be sent to the governor’s desk.
The bill wants to hold the department accountable for problems that arise with patients moving to Medi-Cal managed care plans with stronger, measurable benchmarks, Pan said.
Reversing Medi-Cal Cuts Priorty for Latino Lawmakers
Members of the legislative Latino Caucus on Tuesday laid out their agenda that includes some form of reversal of the 10% reduction in payments to Medi-Cal providers.
The Legislature passed the 10% cut in 2011, but it was delayed until a federal appeals court ruling upheld the reduction two weeks ago. State officials said the bulk of the cutbacks will begin in September.
Although the case may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal appeals court ruling May 24 puts pressure on the Legislature to come up with an alternative. Some lawmakers — including the Latino Caucus — have been working to craft a legislative answer. Two members of the Latino Caucus in particular have been front-and-center in efforts to reverse the rate cuts.
Another Arrow in the Quiver for Attempt To Reverse Medi-Cal Cut
After a series of setbacks — legislative and legal — options have dwindled for provider groups trying to reverse a 10% Medi-Cal reimbursement cut. Attention has turned now toward getting the Legislature to include a reversal in the next budget proposal.
Protesters Swarm Sacramento to Protest Medi-Cal Cuts
The Capitol yesterday swarmed with protesters upset about a 10% cut in reimbursements to Medi-Cal providers that has raised concerns about the state’s ability to provide access to Medicaid beneficiaries.
“Health care, especially in the hospitals, it’s not always working,” said Sonia De La Torre, a hospital worker who got on a bus at 4 a.m. yesterday in Corona (Riverside County) to attend the Sacramento rally. “When people come into the hospital with no insurance, they get basic care, at best. We want to make sure people get treatment.”
Police estimated 8,000 people gathered outside the Capitol Building yesterday. Musicians took the main stage early in the day, replaced later by speakers including event organizers and legislators.