FROM THE FOUNDATION

Quality of Care Woes Persist in California

Despite a heightened focus on patient safety in recent years, a new CHCF Almanac report finds that although incremental gains have been made, California is still grappling with quality improvement.

HIT Adoption Among California Dentists

What's the level of interest among California dentists in adopting health information technology, such as electronic dental health records, and how many are already making use of such systems? This snapshot of survey data provides some answers.

Health Care Reform's Formidable Challenge

A new Health Affairs analysis and commentary finds that while federal health care reform promises to overhaul the U.S. health care system, it does not adequately address growing Medicare spending.

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Health Care Reform

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09/02/2010

Court Rejects Florida's Ballot Measure Against Reform Law

On Tuesday, the Florida Supreme Court ruled against a state ballot initiative challenging the individual mandate in the federal health reform law, voting 5-2 to exclude the referendum from the November ballot. In their ruling, the justices said that the proposed initiative contained "misleading and ambiguous language," adding, "Currently our only recourse is to strike the proposed constitutional amendment from the ballot." Christian Science Monitor.

09/01/2010

Minnesota Gov. Limits Access to Federal Funds Through Health Reform

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has signed an executive order stopping state officials from seeking federal health reform funding for certain projects and grants. The order will last until Pawlenty's term expires at the end of this year. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.

08/31/2010

HHS Readies Assistance Pay for Early Retiree Health Care

Roughly 1,900 companies have qualified to receive reimbursement from a $5 billion fund established under the health reform law to help businesses, unions and other employers cover health care costs for retirees ages 55 to 64 who do not qualify for Medicare. The large number of qualified groups is raising concerns that HHS will not be able to keep the program solvent until 2014 as planned. Wall Street Journal.

08/31/2010

Support for Reform Law Drops to Lowest Point Since May, Poll Finds

Although support for some provisions of the health reform law has grown, opposition to the individual mandate has increased to 70%, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll. In August, opposition to health reform rose by 10 percentage points. Politico.

08/30/2010

Recession Leads to Jump in Medicaid Rolls Across U.S.

Since December 2007, the economic recession has contributed to a 17% increase in Medicaid enrollment and federal spending on Medicaid has increased by 36%, according to an analysis of state data conducted by USA Today. In addition, health care officials are concerned that physicians will not be able to handle an influx of new patients expected under the federal health reform law. More than 50 million U.S. residents are Medicaid beneficiaries. USA Today.

08/27/2010

As Deadline Nears, Lawmakers Pass Bills To Cover More Care

Yesterday, the California Legislature passed a bill that would require health plans to cover maternity care and another measure that would require insurers to cover mental health treatment. Both bills now are before Gov. Schwarzenegger. Sacramento Bee et al.

08/26/2010

Bills To Establish Calif. Health Benefit Exchange Await Governor's OK

The California Assembly has voted 51-27 to pass AB 1602, the second of two bills to set up a statewide health insurance exchange under the federal health reform law. Gov. Schwarzenegger is expected to sign the companion measures. Wall Street Journal, AP/San Jose Mercury News.

08/25/2010

FDA Releases Guidelines on Calorie Posting for Vendors

On Tuesday, FDA released draft guidelines for a rule requiring restaurants with more than 20 locations and vending machine operators with more than 20 machines to display calorie counts for their menu items. FDA said it will delay implementation of the requirement -- which was mandated by the health reform law to take effect in March 2011 -- to give companies time to comply with the rules. The agency is accepting public comment on how long it should delay enforcing the rules. Los Angeles Times, Reuters.

08/25/2010

State Lawmakers Push Forward on Health Insurance Exchange

The Senate has approved two bills to establish a statewide health insurance exchange. If Gov. Schwarzenegger signs the measures, California would be the first state to create an exchange under the health reform law. AP/Ventura County Star et al.

08/24/2010

Kern County Sees Promise in Expansion of Health Project

Although Kern County has one of the state's lowest ratios of primary care doctors to residents, officials see promise in a state request for a Medicaid waiver to expand California's Health Care Coverage Initiative. The Kern Medical Center Health Plan -- one of 10 county-level pilot programs that make up HCCI -- already has improved access to health care and reduced costs by providing about 5,510 low-income residents with a medical home. Bakersfield Californian.

08/23/2010

Deadline Looms for Passage of Health Care-Related Legislation

California's legislative session is scheduled to end next week, meaning that lawmakers must act soon to advance bills to create a health insurance exchange and boost oversight of health insurers. San Francisco Chronicle, AP/Ventura County Star.

08/23/2010

Obama Administration Seeks To Strengthen Medical Privacy Rules

The Obama administration is working to enhance patient privacy guidelines after criticism emerged that the proposed rules failed to adequately protect patient data. HHS officials plan to release final rules on safeguarding patient medical information this fall. New York Times.

08/23/2010

Whitman Unsure on Joining Health Care Reform Lawsuit

Meg Whitman, GOP gubernatorial candidate, is uncertain whether she would have California join a lawsuit against the health reform law's individual mandate, which requires residents to obtain insurance or face a penalty. Darrel Ng, a campaign spokesperson, said Whitman will not say whether she would support the lawsuit until a ruling is made on a suit filed by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. San Francisco Chronicle.

08/20/2010

Enrollment in High-Risk Insurance Pools Off to Slow Start Nationwide

About 1,200 individuals have been approved to receive health coverage through regional high-risk insurance pools mandated under the health reform law. Officials have estimated that as many as 200,000 people will enroll in the pools by 2013. Kaiser Health News/NPR et al.

08/19/2010

State Data Standards Could Bolster Insurance Exchanges

HHS' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology recently examined data that 10 states collected for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and other health services. According to the enrollment work group of ONC's Health IT Policy Committee, many states use program eligibility data that are similar enough to serve as common data standards for the electronic health insurance exchanges mandated under the federal health reform law. Government Health IT.

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