EVENTS

JUL

Monthly Gathering of Commission on Mental Health Care

Sacramento

JUL

Meeting on Client, Family Leadership in Mental Health

Sacramento

AUG

Medical Residency Programs Focused on Family Practice

Sacramento

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FROM THE FOUNDATION

Physician Supply and Demand in California

While physician supply has increased in recent years, California as a whole barely meets the national recommended minimum range. And future demand is expected to outpace supply due to a confluence of factors. Read details in a new CHCF Almanac report.

Where Big Money Goes in Medi-Cal Spending

Seven percent of Medi-Cal beneficiaries accounted for more than three-quarters of fee-for-service program expenditures in fiscal year 2008. This snapshot profiles this small but expensive population and uses the findings to suggest ways to slow spending growth.

Gauging the Physician Shortage in Medi-Cal

This report uses survey data to measure physician participation in the Medi-Cal program and examine differences across specialties and regions. It finds that low participation rates are a persistent problem and discusses the implications for low-income patients.

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Gov. Declares Financial State of Emergency, Orders Furloughs

Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a financial state of emergency and ordered more than 150,000 state workers to take three monthly furlough days starting in August. Certain agencies and union members are exempt from the order. Los Angeles Times et al.

HHS Clarifies Rules for Children's Health Care Insurance Policies

HHS has issued new rules on how health insurers can structure coverage for children's plans. The agency released the updated policy after hearing confusion about how insurers can offer children's insurance policies under the health reform law. The Hill, CQ HealthBeat.

Officials, Advocates Call for Bristol-Myers Squibb To Cut HIV Drug Prices

Controller John Chiang and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation are urging Bristol-Myers Squibb to lower the price of its HIV/AIDS drug Reyataz. California's AIDS Drug Assistance Program dispensed 69,709 prescriptions of Reyataz last fiscal year. Payers & Providers, Sacramento Bee.

Survey: One out of Five Californians Report Need for Mental Health Help

UCLA researchers found that one in five Californians said they could use assistance with an emotional or mental health issue. However, only about one in three of those who said they could use help actually visited a professional for treatment. Los Angeles Times' "Booster Shots" et al.

Poll Finds Opposition to Health Care Reform Law Has Declined in July

A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll concludes that support for the health reform law has remained steady while opposition to it has dropped. Overall, Americans are split as to whether the overhaul will leave their families better or worse off. Washington Post et al.

New Study Linking End-of-Life Directives With Hospitalization Has Implications for California

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Kenneth Brummel-Smith of Florida State University College of Medicine, Judy Citko of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California and Jeffrey Yee of Woodland Healthcare spoke with California Healthline about the study.

Running Time: 5:06

Capitol Desk

Quality Index Shows Where California Lags

A national state-by-state health quality evaluation casts a spotlight on several areas where California could use improvement. Overall, though, the state sits dead-center in the middle of average.

Read Capitol Desk

AROUND CALIFORNIA

Contra Costa Votes To Keep First 5 Out of County Rule

Grant Aims To Connect L.A. County Community Clinics

Ventura County To Expand Inmate Mental Health Care

ACROSS THE NATION

WellPoint Posts 4% Increase in Profit for Second Quarter

OPINION MAKERS

Editorial: End Brand-Name Rx Makers' Control of Market

THE THINK TANK

How To Build Medi-Cal Waiver Bridge to Health Care Reform

We asked stakeholders how California can design a new Medi-Cal waiver to create the best environment for health care reform to take root in California.

ROAD TO REFORM

How Reform Could Affect Four Key Populations

by Dan Diamond, California Healthline Contributing Editor

A health policy expert explores how the national health reform would affect four groups of U.S. residents. While younger workers are poised to benefit, Medicare beneficiaries may feel cuts.