Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Health Care Clinics Worry About Implications of Scheduled Elimination of Medi-Cal Benefits
Elia Gallardo of the California Primary Care Association, Roberto Juarez of Clinicas del Camino Real in Ventura County and Nadereh Pourat of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research discussed the cuts with California Healthline.
California Lawmakers Clear the Way for Stimulus Money
Rapid action on bills dealing with Medi-Cal and COBRA funding set the stage for part of the federal stimulus money to begin flowing into California. The third and perhaps biggest flow of health care-related funds — for health information technology — will take longer and could be thornier.
Advocates Lobby Against Eliminating Adult Denti-Cal Coverage
Adult dental coverage will be one of nine benefits that Medi-Cal will eliminate if the state does not receive at least $10 billion in federal stimulus money for budget relief over the next 16 months. Advocates say that cut would have long-term consequences for the oral health of Californians of all ages.
Effort Pushes for New Yardstick To Measure Poverty in California
Almost half of California’s seniors struggle to pay for medical costs, housing, food, transportation and other basic needs, according to a new report. It was released in conjunction with a push for a new way to measure poverty — and determine eligibility for publicly funded programs — in California.
Financial Times May Get Harder for California Providers
California’s hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are reeling from a powerful one-two punch of the nation’s economic recession and the state’s difficulties in passing a budget.
State Auditor Report Raps Medi-Cal Enrollment System
A report this month by the Bureau of State Audits criticizes the California Department of Health Care Services for failing to streamline the process for enrolling and tracking Medi-Cal providers.
Financial Meltdown Taking California Budget From Bad to Worse
California’s health care system, already reeling from Medi-Cal cutbacks, faces new risks if the receding economy pushes health insurance out of reach for more people, as many predict it will.
Economy a Hurdle for Children’s Hospital Bond Measure
Proposition 3 seeks $980 million in bond funds to expand children’s hospitals in California. Voters like the idea but worry about adding financial burden to already troubled state finances.
California Lobbies CMS Over Changes in Family Planning Program
Family planning advocates say federally ordered changes in California’s Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment program will harm patients and cost the state and federal governments more money in the process.
Health Care Advocates Warn of ‘Dark Times’ for Latinos
Economic woes in California and across the nation make for a dim outlook for health care efforts for at least the next year, according to health care advocates in California. Recent research indicates that Latinos are at heightened risk of diabetes and face obstacles to care.