Latest Morning Briefing Stories
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.
Health Cuts Raising Seniors’ Hackles
It doesn’t sound like much, the meeting of Senate subcommittee #3.
But tomorrow’s subcommittee hearing is the first time the Legislature will be discussing some of the $1.7 billion in proposed Medi-Cal cuts.
That includes elimination of the Adult Day Health Services program, which Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown hopes would save the state $177 million of general fund money. Lydia Missaelides, executive director of the California Association for Adult Day Services, doesn’t believe it.
New Year, but Same Old Budget Challenges
From coast to coast, governors and state legislators are assuming or returning to office with a common cry: We need to cut Medicaid. Are there new solutions to this old problem?
Researcher Paints Scary Picture of State’s Future
The Medi-Cal system in California is flawed in a basic way, according to researcher Stephen Moses of Pacific Research Institute, a California-based think tank.
“Instead of Medi-Cal being a safety net for the poor,” he said, “it provides very generous benefits to many in the middle class, far more than just the poor.”
The state provides long-term care to people who might have had the means to pay for some form of that care in their lifetimes, Moses contends.