03/18/2010
An advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender seniors says changes to federal rules governing Medicaid, Social Security and other issues could help shore up the medical, financial and social safety nets for GLBT seniors. AARP and the American Society for Aging endorsed the report. Los Angeles Times.
03/16/2010
Physicians nationwide are declining to accept Medicaid beneficiaries as patients because reimbursement rates generally are significantly lower than average payments from private insurers. As a result, beneficiaries are having a harder time finding doctors in some areas. New York Times.
03/16/2010
Some California hospitals will have more to gain than others from a new fee designed to generate increased Medi-Cal reimbursements. State and federal officials currently are negotiating the details of the fee, which requires federal approval. Sacramento Business Journal.
03/15/2010
Emergency departments and outpatient clinics in Sacramento County are starting to consider new ways of delivering care for an increased patient population after recent cuts to local mental health programs drove many psychiatric patients into county facilities. Sacramento Bee.
03/11/2010
Yesterday, the Senate voted 62-36 to approve a $140 billion jobs bill that would avert scheduled cuts to Medicare reimbursements for physicians. The bill also would extend subsidies for COBRA coverage and offer funds to states through Medicaid. Washington Post, The Hill.
03/11/2010
As of July, Marin County women enrolled in Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, will have to obtain gynecological services from the Marin Community Clinic rather than county facilities. The move is part of the county's effort to address a structural budget deficit that is expected to grow to $50 million by 2014-2015. Marin Independent Journal.
03/10/2010
This week, President Obama is expected to authorize more federal agencies and health care programs to contract private companies to conduct audits. The directive is part of a broader effort to combat fraud in federal programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. Wall Street Journal.
03/08/2010
Senators have put together jobs legislation that also would extend higher Medicaid reimbursement rates to states through November, and they have proposed covering the cost of the bill partly by using money the House and Obama administration have targeted for health care reform. CongressDaily et al.
03/08/2010
A recent report finds that minority and low-income women in Los Angeles County tend to have lower rates of preventive screenings and higher rates of chronic conditions. Researchers suggest that limited access to care could be a contributing factor. Los Angeles Times.
03/08/2010
In an amicus brief filed last week, Obama administration attorneys contend that Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposal to reduce eligibility for California's In-Home Supportive Services program could violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Lawmakers approved the IHSS cuts in an effort to reduce state spending by $82.1 million this fiscal year. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
03/04/2010
State officials have rejected an appeal from Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Services to continue handling a claims processing system for Medi-Cal. The Department of Health Care Services will grant the $1.6 billion contract to Affiliated Computer Services. Sacramento Bee.
03/04/2010
A new study finds that 70% of Medi-Cal beneficiaries opt for a publicly-operated Medi-Cal managed care plan in areas where such plans compete with a commercial option. The study also found that the public Medi-Cal plans are earning higher marks for quality. Payers & Providers.
03/04/2010
On Wednesday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Gov. Schwarzenegger and continued to block state budget cuts that would have reduced Medi-Cal reimbursement rates and wages for in-home caregivers. The court said the state skirted federal law because it failed to conduct analyses on the potential impact of the cuts. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" et al.
03/04/2010
Memorial Medical Center of Modesto and Sutter Health have kicked in a second $200,000 grant to help fund psychiatric and medical services in Stanislaus County clinics. The grant will help fund a program launched in June 2009 that now serves about 400 people monthly. Modesto Bee.
03/03/2010
Yesterday, the U.S. Commerce Department announced an alternative poverty formula that will consider the costs of medical treatment and other factors. The new measure will not immediately affect the allocation process for federal aid programs. Washington Post, AP/Boston Globe.